Leavitt Admits SAVE Act Will Make It Harder for Married Women to Vote

According to White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt, married women would need to update their identification documents to vote if the SAVE America Act passes Congress.

During a Tuesday briefing in the White House press room, Leavitt initially argued that the act would not prevent married women from voting. However, moments later, she acknowledged that the bill would indeed require married women, as well as anyone who has changed their name, to re-register before casting their vote.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the SAVE America Act against claims that it would prevent married women from voting.

“The Democrats have created this myth.… Let me be very clear: The SAVE America Act does not prohibit anyone from voting, except illegal aliens,” Leavitt said. “As for married women who have changed their name, if they’re already registered, they are completely unaffected. Those who have recently changed their name or address can still register to vote—they simply need to update their information through their state processes.”

Leavitt added that expecting voters to update their documentation is routine. “This is something the American people—including married women and minorities—already do every day when visiting the Social Security office or DMV. Suggesting otherwise is frankly insulting,” she said.

The SAVE America Act proposes multiple amendments to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993. Key changes include abolishing mail-in voting, requiring proof of citizenship and residency for voter registration, mandating voter ID, and conducting voter roll purges every 30 days—a bureaucratic undertaking that could place significant burdens on local election officials.

“This is popular and rooted in common sense,” Leavitt said while outlining the proposed changes, emphasizing that the alterations were “simple.”

However, the act extends beyond voting regulations. It also includes measures that appear unrelated, such as a federal law preventing men from competing in women’s sports and a ban on “transgender mutilation surgery.”

Leavitt insisted, “Passing the SAVE America Act is the most important thing that Republicans—and frankly, Democrats—can do to strengthen election integrity and protect our democracy.”

Despite claims of popularity, the SAVE America Act has faced significant opposition. Republicans’ first attempt to pass the SAVE Act in late 2025 failed amid widespread nationwide resistance. Earlier versions had required Americans to present proof of citizenship at the polls for every vote, though that requirement has since been removed.

On Monday, Donald Trump urged House Republicans to pass a revised version of the voter ID bill, even though a previous iteration already awaits a Senate vote. Speaking for roughly 13 minutes during an hours-long address to conservative lawmakers at his Doral resort, Trump insisted the SAVE America bill should be the party’s “number one priority.”

“It will guarantee the midterms,” Trump said. “If you don’t get it, big trouble, my opinion.”

However, it remains unclear how barring undocumented immigrants—who, along with legal noncitizen residents, are already ineligible to vote—could “guarantee” an election outcome. Meanwhile, millions of eligible voters could be turned away from the polls due to insufficient documentation. According to a 2023 YouGov survey, more than half of Americans do not possess a passport, and obtaining official copies of birth certificates can take significant time and money—resources some may not have.

State agencies like the DMV and Social Security offices, already notorious for long wait times, could struggle under the surge of Americans suddenly needing to update or register documentation, especially as the Trump administration plans to reduce SSA field office visitors by up to 50 percent.

At the GOP caucus, Trump stressed that failure was not an option and emphasized he would not sign any legislation until it passes. In a phone call with NBC News last week, he even warned he might “close government over” the issue.

Trump previously attempted to implement voter ID in June but failed. At the time, a federal judge excoriated the effort, noting that adding layers of difficulty to voting would harm eligible voters by creating unnecessary barriers.

Critics argue that front-end restrictions—such as limiting one-day voting, curbing mail-in ballots, and requiring same-day voter ID—could suppress turnout and undermine American democracy. High-density urban areas, in particular, would face strained resources, longer processing times, and potential delays that Republicans could exploit to further restrict voter access.