Trending Now - Florida Lawmakers Approve Strict Voter ID and Citizenship Checks
WHO:
Republican state lawmakers in Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis, Republican
State Senator Erin Grall, Republican from Vero Beach
State Sen. Tina Polsky, Democrat from Broward-Palm Beach County
State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka, Republican from Fort Myers
State Rep. Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds, Democrat from West Palm Beach
Secretary of State Cord Byrd
WHAT:
The bill is modeled after the federal SAVE America Act, which mandates voters verify their citizenship when registering.
The effective date of the bill has been delayed to January 2027, after the November 3rd, 2026 midterm elections.
The bill would make Florida the most populous state to impose proof-of-citizenship requirements on voters.
The legislation would prevent college students from using their student IDs when voting in person, with this provision taking effect in 2027.
State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka cited a state report indicating 198 "likely noncitizens who illegally registered and/or voted in Florida" during the 2025 elections.
Florida Legislature passed a bill requiring proof of citizenship for voters
The bill passed in the State House by a vote of 77-28
The bill passed in the State Senate by a vote of 27-12
The legislation restricts accepted forms of identification at the polls
Student IDs and retirement center IDs will no longer be valid
Driver’s licenses, state ID cards, military ID, and licenses to carry concealed weapons will still be accepted
The effective date of the bill is delayed until after the 2026 midterm elections
The bill is known as House Bill 991
WHERE:
Florida
WHEN:
The bill was passed on March 12th, 2026
The provisions of the bill will not take effect until after the 2026 midterm elections, specifically after November 3rd, 2026
WHY:
President Trump has stated that passing a federal bill mandating proof-of-citizenship should be the top priority for Congress to guarantee Republican success in the midterms.
The bill aims to enhance the integrity of elections, as stated by State Senator Erin Grall
President Trump has demanded citizenship verification as part of election-law changes
HOW:
The bill includes a process for matching the state voter registration database with the driver’s license database at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which has been verifying citizenship for compliance with federal REAL ID requirements.
The state voter registration database will be matched with the driver’s license database at the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles
The bill includes a process for verifying citizenship that is described as "invisible" to most people
Individuals changing their registrations will be required to prove their citizenship
(UPDATED March 13, 2026 19:17 UTC)
Florida's legislature has passed a bill that requires voters to verify their citizenship when registering, modeled after the federal SAVE America Act, making it the most populous state to impose such requirements. The effective date for this legislation has been pushed back to January 2027, after the midterm elections, and it will also prevent college students from using their student IDs for in-person voting starting in 2027. State Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka referenced a report that identified 198 likely noncitizens who illegally registered or voted in Florida during the 2025 elections, a concern echoed by President Trump, who believes that a federal proof-of-citizenship bill should be Congress's top priority to ensure Republican success in the upcoming midterms.
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(UPDATED March 13, 2026 17:13 UTC)
On March 12, 2026, Florida lawmakers passed House Bill 991, which requires proof of citizenship for voters, with the State House voting 77 to 28 and the State Senate approving it 27 to 12. The new legislation will restrict accepted forms of identification at the polls, eliminating student IDs and retirement center IDs while still allowing driver's licenses, state ID cards, military IDs, and concealed carry licenses. The bill's provisions will not take effect until after the 2026 midterm elections, specifically after November 3, 2026, and it aims to enhance election integrity, a demand echoed by Trump.