Florida’s SAVE Act Brings New Citizenship and Voting Rules Starting in 2027

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Florida is moving forward with a major election-integrity law that will change how citizenship is recorded, how voter registration is verified, and which forms of identification may be used at the polls.

Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 991, known as the Florida SAVE Act, on April 1, 2026. The law is scheduled to take effect January 1, 2027, meaning it will not affect Florida’s 2026 elections.

Supporters say the law strengthens confidence in Florida elections by making citizenship status clearer and improving verification procedures. Critics argue the new requirements could create additional hurdles for eligible voters who have difficulty obtaining documents.

One of the most visible changes will appear on Florida driver licenses and state identification cards. Under the new law, cards issued, renewed, or replaced after the effective date will indicate citizenship status. U.S. citizens will have that status reflected on the card, while noncitizens who are lawfully present will be marked differently. Current licenses and ID cards will remain valid until they expire.

The law also changes Florida’s voter registration process. Applicants will be required to provide or have verified acceptable evidence of United States citizenship. State election officials and supervisors of elections will use available state and federal records to help confirm voter eligibility.

For in-person voting, the law removes several forms of identification from the list of acceptable voter IDs. Student identification cards, public assistance cards, retirement center IDs, neighborhood association IDs, and credit or debit cards will no longer qualify. Florida driver licenses, Florida identification cards, U.S. passports, and other approved government-issued photo IDs will remain acceptable.

The legislation also adds transparency requirements for candidates and elected officials. Candidates will be required to disclose dual citizenship, and certain elected officials will face additional financial disclosure rules related to stock ownership and trading.

DeSantis and supporters of the bill have framed the SAVE Act as part of Florida’s broader push to secure elections and prevent unlawful voting. Voting-rights groups have challenged portions of the law, arguing it may burden eligible voters who lack ready access to citizenship documents.

“Safeguarding the electoral process to improve oversight and prevent unlawful influence has been a top priority for my administration since my first days in office,” said Governor Ron DeSantis. “Today I signed the election integrity bill, also known as the Florida SAVE Act. This legislation strengthens the security, transparency, and reliability of Florida’s election system. In Florida, we will always stand up for election integrity.”

For Florida voters, the practical message is simple: nothing changes immediately for the 2026 election cycle, but voters should watch for new registration and ID requirements beginning in 2027.

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Governor Ron DeSantis signed House Bill 991 into law, which strengthens election integrity in the Free State of Florida in several key ways:

Fortifying Voter Registration and Verification

• Requires verification of U.S. citizenship using REAL ID data for new and updated voter registrations
• Establishes a clear process to identify and remove potentially ineligible noncitizens from voter rolls
• Allows individuals to provide documentation to confirm eligibility
• Adds explicit notice that submitting false voter registration information is a felony

Ensuring Accurate and Up-to-Date Voter Rolls

• Enhances coordination between state and local agencies to identify potentially ineligible voters
• Requires supervisors of elections to investigate and take appropriate action

Enhancing Election Security

• Requires voting to be conducted using paper ballots, ensuring a verifiable record of every vote
• Updates identification requirements to ensure only secure, government-issued IDs are accepted

Increasing Accountability for Candidates

• Requires candidates to affirm they meet all legal qualifications for office
• Mandates disclosure of dual citizenship
• Requires federal candidates to disclose stock trading activity while in office
• Prevents last-minute name changes intended to mislead voters
• Establishes a legal process to challenge candidate eligibility

Strengthening Enforcement of Election Laws

• Establishes a five-year statute of limitations for felony election offenses
• Cracks down on election fraud and petition-related misconduct
• Prohibits candidates, political committees, and parties from knowingly accepting foreign contributions

Sources

1. Florida Senate, House Bill 991, 2026 Regular Session.
2. Office of Governor Ron DeSantis, “Governor Ron DeSantis Signs Florida SAVE Act to Strengthen Election Integrity and Security,” April 1, 2026.
3. Leon County Supervisor of Elections, 2026 Election Law Changes.
4. Associated Press, “Florida and Mississippi enact voter citizenship checks, sparking a lawsuit in the Sunshine State,” April 2026.
5. Florida Phoenix, “DeSantis signs bill requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote,” April 1, 2026.