Securing our Elections Act of 2025
The Securing our Elections Act of 2025 would establish a nationwide, photo ID requirement for voting in federal elections by amending the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Starting with elections in 2026, individuals voting in person would generally need to present a valid photo ID, or cast a provisional ballot if they cannot. For ballots cast by mail or other non-person voting, voters would need to submit either a copy of a valid photo ID or provide the last four digits of their Social Security number plus an affidavit stating they could not obtain a valid photo ID after reasonable efforts. The bill also creates mechanisms to provide free IDs for those who cannot afford them, ensures public access to digital imaging devices to copy IDs, and requires states to notify voters of the ID requirements when applying to register. It also provides a process for states with existing ID laws to be deemed in compliance, and consolidates and repeals certain existing photo ID requirements tied to mail-in registration.
Key Points
- 1New law creates Sec. 303A in the Help America Vote Act to require photo ID for federal elections, with in-person voters needing a valid photo ID and non-in-person ballots needing either ID copy or an SSN last four digits plus an affidavit.
- 2If an in-person voter does not present ID, they may cast a provisional ballot and must later present ID or an affidavit citing religious objections to photography within 3 days, before state determinations of eligibility are made.
- 3Absent uniformed services voters (absent due to active duty) are exempt from the ID requirement for those ballots.
- 4States must notify voters of the photo ID requirements at voter registration, and online registration systems must warn users before completing online registration.
- 5The bill requires free ID for individuals unable to pay or obtain an ID, and mandates public access to digital imaging devices at state/local government buildings to copy IDs at no cost.
- 6Valid photo IDs include: state driver’s licenses with photo and expiration, state IDs with photo and expiration, a US passport, a military ID, or other government-issued IDs the state accepts.
- 7States with existing photo ID laws that meet or exceed these standards can request AG approval to be deemed compliant; if the AG does not act within 180 days, the state is considered compliant.
- 8Repeals or supersedes certain existing photo ID provisions tied to mail-in registration; adjusts related enforcement and guidance provisions; and adds an effective date of 2026 for the new rules.