Melissa Bailey, a Republican candidate for New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District, said on April 22 that requiring voter identification and proof of citizenship is a common-sense measure for election integrity.
The debate over the SAVE America Act has drawn attention as Congress considers stricter requirements for federal elections.
“We’re STILL fighting to get the SAVE Act passed! Voter ID and proof of citizenship to vote shouldn’t be controversial—it’s common sense for election integrity. It needs to pass NOW. Let’s keep the pressure on!” Bailey said in a post on Facebook.
The SAVE America Act would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and strict photo identification rules for federal elections. The House passed the measure on Feb. 11, 2026, and the Senate began debate on an updated version on March 17, 2026. Prior House-passed versions with proof-of-citizenship requirements stalled in the Senate, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
New Hampshire’s two senators both voted against cloture on the SAVE America Act voter ID amendment on March 26, 2026. The official U.S. Senate roll call lists Maggie Hassan and Jeanne Shaheen as Nay on the motion to invoke cloture on Husted amendment #4732, the voter ID amendment tied to S. 1383, the legislative vehicle for the SAVE America Act. Their votes put both New Hampshire senators in opposition to ending debate and moving the amendment ahead, as the Senate failed to secure the votes required to invoke cloture.
As Senate Majority Leader, John Thune controls which legislation is brought to the Senate floor for consideration. He has not scheduled a vote on the measure, citing concerns that it would be blocked by a Democratic filibuster. Some Republican senators have called for a vote to change Senate rules and eliminate the filibuster, but no such vote has been brought forward, according to Thune’s office.
A 2025 national survey found that 83% of U.S. adults favored requiring all voters to show government-issued photo identification to vote, including majorities among both Republicans and Democrats. The finding shows broad public support for voter ID across party lines even as federal legislation remains contested in Congress.
Bailey is running as a Republican in New Hampshire’s 1st Congressional District with experience in auditing, accounting, banking, budgeting, financial controls and risk management; she also serves as vice chair of the Bedford Republican Committee.
