More States Passing SAVE America Act Requirements
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) adjourned the chamber early Saturday morning for a month-long recess after confirming Todd Blanche as the country’s 88th attorney general.
He allowed the chamber to recess with less than 90 days to go before what is expected to be hotly contested midterm elections and without passing President Donald Trump’s electing integrity priority:
But as the Senate under Thune dithered, a growing number of GOP-led states are following Trump’s lead and taking the initiative, the Daily Signal reported.
The federal SAVE America Act would require individuals to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections and present photo identification when casting a ballot in those elections.
SAVE stands for the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.
The legislation has passed the House of Representatives multiple times but has not advanced in the Senate.
Beyond the seven states that have recently adopted both proof-of-citizenship and voter identification requirements, Ballotpedia reports that five other states previously enacted laws requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration.
However, implementation of such requirements for federal elections has been shaped by a 2013 U.S. Supreme Court decision, which held that the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) limits states’ ability to require documentary proof of citizenship for applicants using the federal voter registration form.
The NVRA, commonly known as the “Motor Voter Act,” expanded voter registration opportunities through state motor vehicle agencies and other designated government offices.
While Thune has been powerless to persuade enough GOP senators to pass the federal version, his own state has taken action.
South Dakota Gov. Larry Rhoden signed Senate Bill 175 into law in March, requiring individuals registering to vote to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
Under the law, acceptable documentation includes qualifying driver’s licenses or state identification cards, tribal identification cards, U.S. birth certificates, U.S. passports, Consular Reports of Birth Abroad, and certificates of naturalization.
The measure is intended to verify citizenship at the time of voter registration.
In 2026, Kansas enacted the SAVE Kansas Act, which directs the secretary of state to compare the state’s voter registration rolls with the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database to identify and remove individuals who are ineligible to vote.
Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly vetoed the legislation, but the Republican-controlled Kansas Legislature voted to override the veto, allowing the measure to become law.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Florida SAVE Act into law in April. The legislation is scheduled to take effect in 2027.
The law requires state officials to verify the citizenship status of new voter registrations and voter registration updates by comparing them with records maintained by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.
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If citizenship cannot be confirmed through those records, election officials may require applicants to provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate, U.S. passport, or certificate of naturalization.
The measure also directs election officials to use available state and federal databases to verify citizenship when necessary and establishes procedures for removing individuals from the voter rolls if they are determined to be ineligible under state law.
Mississippi enacted Senate Bill 2588, known as the SHIELD Act, requiring local election officials to compare voter registration information with state driver’s license and identification records and, when necessary, the federal Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) database.
Under the law, applicants identified as potential noncitizens may be required to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship before their voter registration can be completed. The legislation took effect on July 1, 2026.
Other states that have enacted similar laws include Utah, Ohio, and Wyoming, the Daily Signal reported.
It’s not clear that the Senate under Thune will be able to pass the legislation when they return, but in any event, if it were to happen, there would be no time for states to implement the measures this election cycle.
BREAKING: Dolly Parton’s Cause Of Death Revealed: ‘Brief Battle’
Dolly Parton’s death came after a brief battle with cancer, her representatives revealed Tuesday.
The country music legend died Aug. 25 at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center in Nashville. She was 80.
Parton had been admitted to the cancer center Friday, four days before her death. Her representatives confirmed the cancer diagnosis in a statement to PEOPLE but did not disclose what type she had.
“Our beloved Dolly Parton spent her life and career bringing joy, laughter, hope and integrity into everything she touched. Her unmatched generosity reached the lives of countless people whom she would never meet, yet she was always there to offer a helping hand,” the statement read.
“Whether it be the hundreds of millions of books donated through her invaluable Imagination Library or funding research that helped create a lifesaving vaccine used around the world, Dolly’s unconditional love for all people was the guiding force for her lasting impact. After bravely facing a brief battle with cancer, Dolly departed her Earthly life today at the Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center surrounded by loved ones,” the statement concluded.
The “Jolene” singer had also been dealing with kidney and autoimmune issues before her death, PEOPLE previously reported.
Just days earlier, Dolly Parton opened up about her declining health and acknowledged that she had put off addressing some medical issues while caring for her husband, Carl.
“As I’ve shared in video messages throughout the past year, I am dealing with some health issues that I just didn’t pay attention to when I was watching over [my husband] Carl. You know, this isn’t the first time I’ve had to manage something like this. Back in the early ’80s, I was down for several months with female issues, and I was struggling with my weight at the time too, so it’s not like I haven’t been through hard times with my health,” Parton told PEOPLE.
Her nephew, Bryan Seaver, announced her death in an Instagram video Tuesday on behalf of the Parton and Owens family.
“My name is Bryan Seaver, son of Cassie Parton, and I’m representing the Parton and Owens family today announcing the passing of my aunt, Dolly Rebecca Parton Dean, Sister, Sis and Granny to one generation and Gigi to the next,” he says in the video.
Seaver, who served as Parton’s head of security for more than two decades, said she had asked him years earlier to deliver the announcement.
“This video announcement is something Dolly asked of me years ago, before I fully absorbed it as a future reality,” he continued. “As her head of security for more than two decades, a role my father Larry held before me, I have imagined the heaviness of this moment but haven’t truly felt it until now.”
Seaver said the moment brought immense pride and heartbreak, but he took comfort in his faith that Parton had been reunited with Carl and other loved ones.
Seaver added: “It is an honor, an honor that is mixed with absolute pride and great sadness. But sadness lies with us, not with Dolly. Dolly has lived in the light and is in the arms of Jesus, surely met by Carl, her parents and countless othe
Shocking 'truth' behind Prince Harry's decision to quit major role
Prince Harry should have "resigned in disgrace" from the board of a controversial African wildlife charity, a commentator says. James Walker makes the bombshell remark in Wednesday's episode of this publication's podcast, Daily Expresso.
He and the show's host, JJ Anisiobi, delve into the Duke of Sussex's dramatic decision to step down from African Parks. James, commenting on the controversy, said: "When you hear about this stuff and how long it's been going on for, you should be resigning in disgrace. [Harry] should be saying: 'I'm not touching that with a barge pole. That is a failed entity. We're going nowhere near it'.
"But no. He's still saying he's going to 'support their mission'. And again this Caroline Pearce, executive director of Survival International, goes on to say: 'His departure doesn't undo that record'.
"She alleged that African Parks was aware of the abuses for years, but it was only after Survival complained to Harry that the charity finally commissioned an investigation."
James added: "Well, she's got a point."
It emerged on Monday (August 24) that Harry was no longer a board member of the wildlife charity.
The conservation organisation has admitted that human rights abuses were committed by its rangers against members of the semi-nomadic Baka group in Congo-Brazzaville.
African Parks has said since that it has improved its safeguarding processes both in the Odzala-Kokoua National Park and institutionally.
Its admission followed an independent human rights investigation into allegations guards managed and paid by the charity had beaten, raped and tortured indigenous people in Odzala-Kokoua National Park.
Harry was president of the charity for six years before he became a member of its board of directors in 2023.
A spokesman for the Duke said he remains an active and avid supporter of African Parks. He added: "The Duke is proud of his 10 years with African Parks and fully supports the ongoing strengthening of its board.
"His commitment to conservation in Africa continues and he remains a supporter of African Parks’ mission."
Human rights organisation, Survival International, said it had been calling on Harry to step down from African Parks for years.
The group's director, Caroline Pearce, said in a statement: "It’s outrageous that for 10 years Prince Harry has served African Parks while the organisation has been responsible for abuse and violence against Indigenous people.
"His departure doesn't undo that record — African Parks itself must now be held accountable, and must abandon this model of fortress conservation for good."
Survival International said indigenous peoples know how best to manage their land and the idea outsiders know better is racist and colonial.
