Speaker Mike Johnson secured a key procedural victory in the US House of Representatives on Tuesday, advancing the SAVE Act, an election integrity bill backed by President Donald Trump, despite opposition from Democrats. The vote is significant because it clears a major hurdle for legislation that would require proof of citizenship and voter identification, a measure Republicans say protects election integrity but which Democrats argue is designed to suppress voting rights.

The bill's proponents, including senior Trump administration officials who lobbied Republicans behind closed doors, frame it as necessary to prevent non-citizens from registering to vote, pointing to recent cases such as New Jersey's removal of thousands of people from its voter rolls. Democrats have strongly contested this rationale, characterising the legislation as a barrier to legitimate voters. The vote clears the way for further debate as the bill moves through the House.