Despite Maine voters rejecting a photo ID voting requirement last year, Sen. Susan Collins is now backing a bill aligned with former President Donald Trump’s agenda that could impose such a mandate.
In a recent fundraising email, Collins expressed her support for the SAVE Act, legislation that mandates nationwide photo ID presentation for voters. This act also seeks to curtail most mail-in voting and demands proof of citizenship at registration, requiring documents like passports or birth certificates.
“I announced that I will vote for the SAVE America Act because the law and the Constitution are clear: Citizens of other countries should not be voting in American elections,” Collins stated in her email.
Trump echoed this sentiment, urging House Republicans to pass the bill during a recent policy summit. He claimed, “Our elections are crooked as hell, and you can win—not only win elections over that and not only win future elections—but you’ll win every debate because the public is really angry about it.”
Contrary to these assertions, a Department of Homeland Security review indicates that noncitizen voting is extremely rare and does not influence election results. Noncitizens are already barred from registering or voting in most elections.
The SAVE Act passed the House with predominant Republican support on Feb. 11. However, it faces obstacles in the Senate, needing a 60-vote majority unless Republicans opt to suspend the filibuster, an action currently under consideration.
Collins’ vote may prove pivotal should Senate Republicans attempt to override the filibuster.
Opponents of the SAVE Act caution that it could restrict voting access for over 21 million Americans. Particularly affected may be married women who have had name changes, due to potential discrepancies in identification documents, as highlighted here.
Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democratic contender in the upcoming election against Collins, criticized Collins for her support of the bill.
“The right to vote is the foundation of American democracy, and Maine is proud to have one of the highest voter participation rates in the nation,” Mills stated on Feb. 14. “But Susan Collins is once again appeasing Republican leadership and caving to pressure by backing a dangerous Trump-backed voter suppression bill that will disenfranchise voters across Maine and America.”
Graham Platner, another Democratic challenger, also voiced criticism.
“Under this terrible bill, if you get married and change your name—or if you can’t find your passport—you could be turned away from the polls,” Platner remarked in a Facebook video.
Collins is the sole Senate Republican up for reelection in 2026 in a state where Trump was not victorious in the 2024 election.
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