Utah senator calls for procedural changes to overcome Democratic opposition to election integrity legislation requiring proof of citizenship and voter ID.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, is escalating his campaign to bring the SAVE America Act to a vote in the Senate, urging fellow Republicans to modify enforcement of filibuster rules to prevent what he calls a “Zombie Filibuster” from blocking the legislation.
The bill, introduced by Lee and Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote and mandate photo identification for participation in federal elections. According to Lee’s office, the measure builds upon prior House legislation and adds a voter ID requirement. Details of the proposal are outlined in the official release announcing the SAVE America Act, as well as in the bill text available through Lee’s office here.
The House approved the bill on a party-line vote. In the Senate, however, most legislation must secure 60 votes to invoke cloture and proceed to final passage under existing filibuster rules, giving the minority party the ability to delay or block action.
“The longer we wait, the harder it’ll get to pass the SAVE America Act,” Lee wrote Sunday night on X. “Senate Republicans should rip off the Zombie Filibuster next week.”
In subsequent posts, Lee urged enforcement of a traditional “talking filibuster,” in which senators opposing a bill must physically hold the floor and continue speaking to sustain debate. “Enforce the Talking Filibuster,” Lee posted Sunday. “Slay the Zombie. Baby steps to SAVE America … becoming giant leaps.”
Lee later referenced Sen. Bill Hagerty, R-Tenn., writing, “My friend @SenatorHagerty gets it: We must sideline the Zombie Filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act,” in a post linking to video of Hagerty’s remarks. “We need all Republican senators on the same page. If you agree, please spread the word.”
On Sunday evening, Lee also asked followers, “Where do your senators stand on setting aside the Zombie Filibuster to pass the SAVE America Act?” in another X post.
In a joint statement announcing the legislation, Lee and Roy wrote that the proposal strengthens prior efforts. “The SAVE America Act makes our original SAVE Act better,” they said in the statement unveiling the bill. “President [Donald] Trump rightly believes we should include Voter ID in this bill as we make a renewed push to secure our elections and protect the rights of American voters. By requiring Voter ID and proof-of-citizenship, the SAVE America Act will ensure that our federal elections are decided by U.S. citizens — and U.S. citizens alone.”
Lee has argued that the modern filibuster no longer requires continuous floor speeches, allowing senators to block legislation simply by signaling opposition and preventing cloture. He and other conservatives refer to this as a “zombie filibuster,” contending that it grants a minority of 41 senators effective veto power without active debate.
Under Lee’s proposal, reviving enforcement of the talking filibuster would require opponents to sustain continuous debate on the Senate floor if they wish to delay a vote. Supporters argue this could eventually exhaust resistance and permit passage by a simple majority once debate concludes, without formally eliminating the 60-vote cloture threshold.
Despite gaining 50 Republican co-sponsors, including Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the path forward remains uncertain. Collins supports the SAVE America Act but has expressed opposition to altering filibuster rules, highlighting divisions within the Republican conference over procedural reform.
As debate continues, the fate of the SAVE America Act hinges not only on partisan alignment but also on whether Senate Republicans can reach consensus on changing how the chamber’s longstanding debate rules are enforced.
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