BREAKING: Sen. Susan Collins Backs SAVE Act With ONE CONDITION — GOP Now Secures 51 Senate Votes with JD Vance On Board to Enforce Voter ID Nationwide
In a major development that could reshape the future of federal election law in the United States, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) has officially announced her support for the SAVE Act.
With Vice President JD Vance prepared to break a tie if necessary, supporters of the legislation now say they have the numbers needed to pass the bill under a standing or “talking” filibuster scenario, marking a potential turning point in the GOP’s long-running effort to implement nationwide voter ID and proof-of-citizenship requirements for federal elections.
It can be recalled that Rep. Anna Paulina Luna revealed that Senate leadership is moving toward nuking the so-called “Zombie Filibuster” and restoring an old-school standing filibuster to advance the SAVE America Act, legislation that requires proof of U.S. citizenship to vote.
According to Luna, John Thune signaled after a meeting with Donald Trump that the Senate is prepared to bring the SAVE Act to the floor without the modern, abuse-ridden 60-vote blockade.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) celebrated the news:
“I’m thrilled to receive the news that Senator Susan Collins has announced her support for the SAVE America Act! This is huge!”
I’m thrilled to receive the news that Senator Susan Collins has announced her support for the SAVE America Act!
This is huge! pic.twitter.com/PxAvRD2C5N
— Mike Lee (@BasedMikeLee) February 13, 2026
Collins had previously expressed reservations about earlier iterations of the legislation, particularly provisions that would have required voters to present proof of citizenship, such as passports or birth certificates, each time they cast a ballot.
However, according to reporting from The Maine Wire, the current House-passed version of the SAVE America Act has removed that requirement, instead allowing state-issued identification to suffice, an adjustment Collins says was critical in securing her support.
“Requiring voters to produce passports or birth certificates on election day — as opposed to just a state-issued ID — would have placed an unnecessary burden on the voters. That provision is no longer in the bill and dropping this requirement was key to getting my support,” Collins said.
“The law is clear that in this country only American citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections,” Collins added.
“In addition, having people provide an ID at the polls, just as they have to do before boarding an airplane, checking into a hotel, or buying an alcoholic beverage, is a simple reform that will improve the security of our federal elections and will help give people more confidence in the results.”
The current House-passed SAVE America Act still requires proof of citizenship BEFORE registering to vote, per updated bill summaries:
The bill would “require photo ID at polling places and mandate states obtain proof of citizenship before registering a person to vote.”
| Process | What You Need (House-Passed Version) |
|---|---|
| Register to vote | Documentary proof of citizenship (passport, birth certificate, etc.) |
| Vote on Election Day | State-issued photo ID |
Collins’ endorsement comes with one critical caveat that may frustrate some on the right: she is drawing a firm red line when it comes to eliminating the Senate’s legislative filibuster in order to pass the bill.
“I oppose eliminating the legislative filibuster,” Collins said.
“The filibuster is an important protection for the rights of the minority party, that requires Senators to work together in the best interest of the country. Removing that protection would, for example, allow a future Congress controlled by Democrats to pass provisions on anything they want — DC Statehood, open borders, or packing the Supreme Court — with just a simple majority of Senators.”
She warned that dismantling the 60-vote threshold could pave the way for sweeping progressive legislation in the future.
“Removing that protection would, for example, allow a future Congress controlled by Democrats to pass provisions on anything they want—DC statehood, open borders, or packing the Supreme Court—with just a simple majority of Senators.”
If passed, the SAVE America Act would mark the most significant overhaul of federal election law in decades—codifying citizenship verification into statute and potentially restoring confidence in the integrity of U.S. elections ahead of the 2026 midterms and beyond.
With 50 Republican senators now reportedly committed, and JD Vance on standby, the path forward for the SAVE Act may be clearer than ever before.
This new development comes after Elon Musk and Nicki Minaj have rallied their massive followings, urging Americans to call their Senators and demand they pass the SAVE Act.
Here are the Senate holdouts still standing in the way of secure elections:
- Lisa Murkowski (AK): (202) 224-6665
- Mitch McConnell (KY): (202) 224-2541
- Thom Tillis (NC): (202) 224-6342
Earlier today, President Trump went off in a Truth Social post, demanding that Republicans pass the SAVE America Act to require voter ID and proof of citizenship in federal elections and suggesting that he will sign an executive order to institute the law himself.
The President declared, “If we can’t get it through Congress, there are Legal reasons why this SCAM is not permitted. I will be presenting them shortly, in the form of an Executive Order.”
“We cannot let the Democrats get away with NO VOTER I.D. any longer. These are horrible, disingenuous CHEATERS. They have all sorts of reasons why it shouldn’t be passed, and then boldly laugh in the backrooms after their ridiculous presentations,” Trump said.
“If it weren’t such a serious matter, it would be considered a TOTAL JOKE! No Voter I.D. is even crazier, and more ridiculous, than Men playing in Women’s Sports, Open Borders, or Transgender for Everyone.”
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