{"id":2586217,"date":"2026-04-01T16:15:55","date_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:15:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-signs-floridas-version-of-the-save-america-act\/"},"modified":"2026-04-01T16:19:05","modified_gmt":"2026-04-01T20:19:05","slug":"desantis-signs-floridas-version-of-the-save-america-act","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/desantis-signs-floridas-version-of-the-save-america-act\/","title":{"rendered":"DeSantis signs Florida\u2019s version of the SAVE America Act"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fdesantis-signs-floridas-version-of-the-save-america-act%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2586217&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/if-dems-wanted-safe-elections-theyd-have-backed-the-save-act\/\" title=\"If Dems Wanted Safe Elections, They&#039;d Have Backed The ... Act\">bill requiring documentary proof<\/a> of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, creating a state version of the proposed federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE). The measure,backed by Republicans,would require registrants to provide documents like a passport or birth certificate at the point of registration,adding to the existing citizenship attestation requirement. voting-rights groups and Democrats criticized the law as a potential barrier for vulnerable voters and have filed a federal lawsuit to block it. DeSantis argued that, if the federal act were enacted, 99.7% of Florida voters would already be in compliance. The signing comes as Democrats won two seats in March\u2019s special elections, signaling momentum, though Republicans still hold supermajorities in the state legislature and the governor\u2019s office.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">DeSantis signs Florida&rsquo;s version of the SAVE America Act after Democrats flip two state legislature seats<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2548346\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>Gov. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/ron-desantis\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"575\">Ron DeSantis<\/a> (R-FL) signed legislation Wednesday requiring <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/voter-id\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"162\">proof of U.S. citizenship<\/a> to register to vote, advancing a state-level version of the proposed federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act.<\/p>\n<p>The measure, backed by Republican lawmakers, requires individuals registering to vote in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/florida\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"159\">Florida<\/a> to provide documentary proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. The move comes after Florida Democrats <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/house\/4503739\/florida-special-election-warning-bells-gop-democratic-overperformance\/\">flipped two seats<\/a> in the state legislature in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/2026-election\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11675\">special elections<\/a> on March 24.<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4511449\/grand-conspiracy-investigation-obama-era-officials-florida\/\">Grand conspiracy investigation into Obama-era officials gains steam in South Florida<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4511067\/judge-orders-california-pay-attorney-fees-loss-school-secret-gender-transition\/\">Judge orders California to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ca-must-pay-attorney-fees-after-losing-school-secret-gender-transition-case\/\" title=\"CA must pay attorney fees after losing school secret gender transition case\">pay hefty attorney fees<\/a> after loss in school secret gender transition case<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4511062\/feeding-our-future-fraudster-sentenced-one-year\/\">Feeding Our Future fraudster sentenced to just one year in prison by judge committed to &lsquo;combating racism&rsquo;<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>DeSantis said the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/court-rules-no-evidence-georgias-voting-law-discriminates-against-black-voters\/\" title=\"Georgia&#039;s voting ... found non-discriminatory by court.\">law strengthens election integrity<\/a> in one of the nation&rsquo;s most populous states, framing it as part of a broader push by Republican-led states to tighten voting requirements.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Our Constitution in the state of Florida says only American citizens are allowed to vote in our elections, and so we need to make sure the law reflects that,&rdquo; DeSantis said during the bill signing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Florida already requires voters to attest to their citizenship under penalty of law, but the new measure adds documentation requirements at the point of registration.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The legislation mirrors the federal SAVE America Act, which has been championed by congressional Republicans and President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"4\">Donald Trump<\/a>&nbsp;but has not been enacted.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Voting rights groups and Democrats have opposed both efforts, arguing they risk disenfranchising voters who may not have easy access to citizenship documents, including elderly voters, married women whose names have changed, and lower-income residents.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The League of Women Voters of Florida and a coalition of advocacy groups, represented by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/aclu\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"913\">American Civil Liberties Union<\/a>, were swift to file a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.aclu.org\/live\/uploads\/2026\/04\/FL-DPOC-Complaint.pdf\">federal lawsuit to block the law.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We are most concerned about impact as it relates to the most vulnerable Florida voters,&rdquo; Jonathan Topaz, attorney at the ACLU, said. &ldquo;This could mean older Black voters who grew up in the Jim Crow South who don&rsquo;t have access to birth certificates, this could be naturalized citizens &mdash; we know naturalized citizens are flagged as noncitizens all the time.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>DeSantis disputed these claims and said that the SAVE America Act wouldn&rsquo;t change much for Floridians if it were enacted federally.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;If the Save America Act federally were to be enacted, 99.7% of Florida voters have already complied with what that law requires,&rdquo; he said<\/p>\n<p>The signing comes as Florida Democrats point to signs of a political movement in a state that trended reliably Republican for years. The victories for Democrats in March&rsquo;s <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >special elections emboldened party leaders<\/a>, who believe the outcomes reflect growing frustration among voters and renewed investment in organizing and turnout efforts.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/campaigns\/congressional\/4512288\/alex-vindman-raises-8-million-senate-bid-florida\/\"><strong>ALEX VINDMAN RAISES $8.2 MILLION IN SENATE BID AS FLORIDA DEMOCRATS FEEL MOMENTUM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Those wins, while limited in scope, have been cited by Democrats as evidence that targeted races and grassroots organizing can still yield gains in a state where Republicans have expanded their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/on-the-verge-of-being-unstoppable-democratic-governors-association-abandons-florida-2022-to-desantis-report-says\/\" title=\"\u2018On The Verge Of Being Unstoppable\u2019: Democratic Governors Association Abandons ... 2022 To ..., Report Says\">voter registration advantage<\/a> and dominated statewide offices.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Republicans, however, have downplayed the significance of the legislative flips, noting that the party continues to hold supermajorities in both chambers of the state legislature and maintains control of the governor&rsquo;s office.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Paraphrase:<br \/>\nFlorida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill that requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote, creating a Florida version of the federal Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act. The Republican-backed measure would mandate applicants show citizenship documents such as a passport or birth certificate at registration. The move came after Democrats flipped two statehouse seats in March special elections. DeSantis framed the law as boosting election integrity in a large state and part of a broader GOP push to tighten voting rules. Critics, including the League of Women Voters of Florida and the ACLU, warned it could disenfranchise voters who lack easy access to documents-such as older Black residents, naturalized citizens, and low-income individuals-and they&#8217;ve filed a federal lawsuit to block it. DeSantis argued the impact would be limited and noted that if the federal act were enacted, about 99.7% of Florida voters would already be in compliance. While Democrats see signs of momentum, Republicans note they still hold supermajorities in the Legislature and the governor\u2019s office.<\/p>\n<p>55-character version:<br \/>\nDeSantis signs state-level SAVE Act in Florida<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2586218,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25226544585570.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[546,33651],"tags":[4980,5113,75195],"class_list":["post-2586217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-federalist","category-the-western-journal","tag-desantis","tag-florida","tag-save-america-act-2"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/AP25226544585570.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2586217"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2586221,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2586217\/revisions\/2586221"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2586218"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2586217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2586217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2586217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}