A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.

Where it stands

1. Introduced Done · Aug 5, 2026
2. Committee Not yet
3. Passed Senate Not yet
4. Passed House Not yet
5. President Not yet
6. Law Not yet

From the official actions on Congress.gov.

Key points

What it changes

A plain-language summary isn't ready yet. The official summary below describes the bill.

Who it affects

A plain-language summary isn't ready yet. The official summary below describes the bill.

What it costs

No cost estimate yet.

Where it stands

Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 46. Record Vote Number: 231. (Aug 8, 2026)

What happens next

A committee would usually act on it before the full Senate votes.

Official summary

This bill establishes certain photo identification requirements for voting in federal elections. Specifically, the bill prohibits a state or local election official from providing a ballot for a federal election to an individual who does not present valid physical photo identification. Next, the bill outlines the availability of provisional ballots and the requirements for counting those ballots. An individual who does not present a valid photo identification must be permitted to cast a provisional ballot. However, an election official may not determine that the individual is eligible under state law to vote in the election unless, not later than three days after casting the provisional ballot, the individual presents (1) the identification required, or (2) an affidavit attesting that the individual does not possess the identification because of a religious objection to being photographed. An election official may not allow for voting methods other than in-person voting unless the individual submits with the ballot (1) a copy of their photo identification, or (2) the last four digits of their Social Security number with an affidavit attesting that the individual is unable to obtain a copy of a valid photo identification after making reasonable efforts to obtain a copy. This prohibition shall not apply to overseas military voters and certain disabled or elderly voters. States must, to the extent practicable, ensure public access to digital imaging devices for individuals to make a free copy of their valid photo identification. These requirements take effect one day after the bill's enactment.

Summary by the Congressional Research Service (Introduced in Senate version), via Congress.gov. These are proposed provisions, not enacted law.

Recorded votes

1. SENATEOtherAug 8, 2026 · roll call 231

   On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed: Cloture on the Motion to Proceed Rejected (52–46)

   A bill to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require voters to provide photo identification.
   Votes by party

   How each party voted on roll call 231

   Party	Yes	No	Present	Did not vote	Share voting Yes
   Democratic	0	44	0	1
   Republican	52	0	0	1
   Independent	0	2	0	0

   Party totals from the official roll call.

   Map: how each state voted

   All voted YesSplitAll voted NoNo Yes or No votes

   Each state is shaded by the share of its senators who voted Yes, out of those who voted Yes or No. Colors show the vote, not party.

   U.S. Senate roll call vote (data via Voteview, UCLA) ↗ — includes how every member voted

Vote types come from the official question text. How we label votes

Legislative history

1. Aug 8, 2026Cloture on the motion to proceed to the measure not invoked in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 52 - 46. Record Vote Number: 231.
2. Aug 8, 2026Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to the measure presented in Senate. (CR S4556)
3. Aug 8, 2026Motion to proceed to consideration of measure made in Senate. (CR S4556)
4. Aug 6, 2026Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 547.
5. Aug 5, 2026Introduced in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
6. Aug 5, 2026Introduced in Senate