WASHINGTON, D.C. – Election rules are back in the spotlight, and national voter ID is once again at the center of the fight. With the 2026 midterms getting closer, Republicans in Congress are pushing bills that would set nationwide standards for voter identification and proof of citizenship. Supporters call it a basic step to protect elections. Opponents say it would block eligible voters and add new hurdles to casting a ballot.

The main bill driving the current debate is the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, listed as H.R. 22 in the 119th Congress. Rep. Chip Roy (R-TX) introduced it in the House, and Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) introduced a companion bill in the Senate.

The SAVE Act would change the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 by requiring documentary proof of US citizenship to register for federal elections. Examples of acceptable documents include a US passport, a military ID, or other documents that show citizenship, such as a birth certificate that meets REAL ID Act rules.

The House is expected to vote soon on an updated version of the SAVE Act. The push has grown louder with support from former President Donald Trump and conservative activists. This newer version goes further than earlier drafts. It would require photo ID at the polls, along with proof of citizenship during registration.

Republicans say the bill addresses weak spots in states that do not have strict ID rules. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) has framed it as a way to stop noncitizen voting. That is already illegal, but supporters argue that enforcement and verification vary too much by state.

A separate proposal, the Make Elections Great Again (MEGA) Act, was introduced by House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil (R-WI) in January 2026. It is a larger package that includes a national photo ID requirement, tighter rules for mail-in voting, stronger voter roll maintenance, and post-election audits. It is not only about voter ID, but it also includes similar citizenship checks and has support from GOP leaders who want broader election changes.

Even with momentum in the House, the path is steep in the Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has said the SAVE Act will not move forward there, calling it a modern version of Jim Crow and warning it would keep many eligible voters from voting. Democrats hold a narrow Senate majority, and the bill would still have to clear the filibuster, which usually means finding 60 votes.

It is not close to that number right now. Trump’s public support, including comments about “nationalizing” elections in certain cities, has raised the temperature. It has also triggered pushback, including from local election officials who worry about federal control over state-run elections.

Public Opinion Shows Strong Support, Even With Partisan Tension

Polls show voter ID is popular with the public, across party lines and many demographic groups. A 2025 Pew Research Center survey found 83% of US adults support requiring a government-issued photo ID to vote. That included 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats. A 2024 Gallup poll found 83% support for requiring proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

Support also shows up in groups often mentioned in this debate. In the same Pew survey, 76% of Black adults, 85% of White adults, and 82% of Hispanic adults supported photo ID requirements. A Monmouth University poll reported similar results, with 80% support overall, including 62% of Democrats. Those numbers complicate the common claim that voter ID laws are always viewed as discriminatory, since majorities of Black and Latino voters support the idea.

Still, the gap between the parties remains real. Republican voters back these policies at very high rates (some polls show 91%). Democratic voters are closer to the 70% range, while many top Democratic leaders oppose the bills.

Critics say that the split suggests party leaders are not matching what many Democratic voters say they want. On X (formerly Twitter), users such as @RilesZrk have pointed to polling figures like “87% of Blacks & 82% of Latinos support voter ID” while challenging Democratic opposition.

The Case For a National Voter ID Law

Supporters of a national voter ID law say it would reduce fraud and increase trust in election results. Research often finds that in-person voter fraud is rare, with some studies putting rates as low as 0.00004%. Backers respond that even a small number of cases can damage confidence. The Heritage Foundation argues that voter ID rules can prevent more than one type of fraud, including impersonation and noncitizen voting, and that these laws do not meaningfully reduce turnout.

Supporters also point to the broad popularity of voter ID as proof that it feels reasonable to many voters. A Heritage analysis argues that voter ID laws have not shown negative effects on registration or turnout across demographic groups. A 2023 study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that ID laws can increase participation from both parties, which can reduce the idea that one side gains an advantage.

Heading into 2026, allies of Trump and many Republicans say nationwide standards would reduce confusion and conflict, especially in battleground states. They argue that a patchwork of state rules invites disputes like those seen after the 2020 election.

The Case Against It: Voter Barriers and Real-World Logistics

Opponents, including the ACLU and the Brennan Center for Justice, argue that strict ID laws can create obstacles that hit some groups harder. They point to low-income voters, older voters, minority voters, and rural voters as groups more likely to struggle with document access. Estimates often cited in this debate say up to 11% of eligible voters do not have a qualifying ID.

Some figures put the share higher for certain groups, including 25% of Black voters and 18% of voters over age 65. Critics also highlight costs tied to getting documents, sometimes estimated at $75 to $175, plus travel challenges in areas with fewer government offices.

They also argue that the fraud concern is overstated. Noncitizen voting is rare and already illegal, and they say existing penalties and enforcement tools already cover it. A Bipartisan Policy Center analysis of the SAVE Act points to possible unintended effects, including a Kansas example where similar rules blocked 31,000 eligible citizens. Research on turnout is mixed, but opponents often cite findings that show lower participation among some minority groups under stricter rules.

For the 2026 cycle, critics also warn about day-to-day election administration. They expect local offices to get overloaded, lines could grow, and more voters could be pushed into provisional ballots. The National Conference of State Legislatures has warned that conflicts between federal rules and state election laws could create confusion for voters and election workers.

Democratic Leaders vs. Democratic Voters

Many Democratic leaders have attacked the SAVE Act in strong terms. They argue it shifts the burden onto voters and could result in eligible citizens getting removed from the rolls. Schumer has compared it to older voter suppression tactics. Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-MD) has called it a “solution in search of a problem.”

At the same time, polling continues to show that many Democratic voters support photo ID requirements. That gap has fueled criticism that party leadership is taking a harder line than its voters.

Some commentators argue Democrats often frame voter ID as racist, even though polling shows solid support among Black voters (76% in the Pew survey) and Latino voters (82%).

A KFF/theGrio survey found Black voters see racism as a major problem in the GOP (76%), and also a minor problem in the Democratic Party (53%). Critics, including filmmaker Ami Horowitz, have also pushed back on the “racist” label by interviewing Black voters in New York who say they do not see voter ID laws that way.

For Democrats heading into 2026, the risk is political as much as policy-based. If voters see party leaders as ignoring popular reforms, it could weaken support among moderates.

What Minority Voters Say: Support Is Strong, Access Concerns Are Real

Polling shows Black and Latino voters largely support voter ID laws. At the same time, some research suggests these groups are more likely to lack IDs. One commonly cited figure says 13% of Black Americans do not have the needed ID, compared with 5% of White Americans. Groups like the Brennan Center argue that strict rules can widen turnout gaps if states do not make IDs easy to get.

Some Black conservatives, including people aligned with Trump, argue that voter ID is not racist and should be treated as a normal requirement. Pew polling has also shown many Black voters view Trump negatively (72% rated his presidency poorly), while also showing some movement in political preferences, including only 63% backing Biden in 2024. Some commentators say Democrats focus too much on the voter ID framing and not enough on issues many voters rank higher, like jobs and prices.

How This Could Affect the 2026 Midterms

If a national voter ID law becomes reality, it could reshape how the 2026 midterms play out. Supporters think consistent rules could cut down on disputes. Opponents expect lower turnout among some groups, especially in states that do not currently require strict ID, such as California and New York. The NCSL has also pointed to implementation hurdles, including matching mail ballot timelines and running citizenship checks through systems tied to SAVE-style requirements.

Lawsuits would likely follow quickly. The Brennan Center has called the idea “catastrophic” for voters. If courts block the law, Republicans could use that as more proof that the system is vulnerable, which could deepen partisan distrust.

Some studies suggest overall turnout changes are small, but any decline could fall harder on Democratic-leaning groups. On X, the argument shows up from both sides, including people like @fawfulfan who say a clear federal ID rule could reduce claims of selective suppression.

Either way, the fight over a national voter ID law is about more than paperwork. It is about trust in elections, the balance between access and security, and how much control Washington should have over rules that states have long managed. As 2026 gets closer, the outcome may depend on Senate math, public pressure, and how far each party is willing to push.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – A former Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) employee says she paid a steep price for speaking up. Faye Bernstein, a long-time agency worker, claims she faced years of retaliation from Tim Walz after raising concerns about weak controls that she believes helped fuel Minnesota’s growing social services fraud crisis.

Bernstein says she warned leaders about risks in 2018 and 2019, before federal prosecutors began putting public numbers on the damage. Prosecutors now estimate that as much as $9 billion in taxpayer money may have been stolen since 2019 across multiple programs.

A 20-year DHS veteran who worked in contract management and compliance, Bernstein has shared her story on national TV, including Fox News. She says that after she reported irregular contracting practices, she became the target of what she calls a coordinated effort to discredit her.

Her claims come as federal investigators continue to probe fraud tied to child nutrition programs, Medicaid housing supports, autism services, and other benefits. Prosecutors say many of these cases involve networks concentrated in Minnesota’s Somali-American community.

The controversy has reached Congress. The U.S. House Oversight Committee has held hearings where state lawmakers accused Gov. Tim Walz’s administration of brushing off warnings, punishing whistleblowers, and failing to put strong safeguards in place. Bernstein has also pushed back on Walz’s public statements that he didn’t know about the problems, calling that claim “absolutely false.”

Warnings Met With Pushback

Bernstein says her problems started early in Tim Walz’s term, which began in 2019. After she was promoted to a lead role within the Behavioral Health Administration, she says she had a broader view of contracts across the agency.

What she saw worried her. Bernstein described contracting as sloppy and poorly controlled, with few clear checks to stop bad actors. She said the state was “completely open to fraud.”

“I saw just extreme sloppiness, messiness in our contracting processes,” Bernstein said in interviews. She says she raised the issue internally and warned that fraud would follow if DHS didn’t tighten its systems. She says her concerns weren’t welcomed.

Bernstein claims managers cut her duties, left her out of meetings, and treated her complaints as a problem. She says she was accused of racial bias when she brought up patterns she believed were tied to fraud.

“The smear campaign starts where you are told you are racist and your job duties are lessened till you basically have no job duties,” she said.

Bernstein says DHS later barred her from agency properties, revoked her credentials, and moved her into roles that had little real work. She also says she endured state investigations that were expensive and draining. In letters and interviews, she describes ongoing harassment and being pushed to the sidelines. She now warns that reporting fraud without anonymity can ruin a career.

Prosecutors Say the Losses Reach Into the Billions

Federal authorities, including the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Minnesota, have charged close to 100 people in related cases. Dozens have already been convicted.

The best-known case centers on Feeding Our Future. Prosecutors say the nonprofit submitted false claims about feeding children during the COVID-19 pandemic and took at least $250 million. Investigators say large sums went to luxury purchases, real estate, and transfers abroad.

From there, investigations widened. Authorities began focusing on Medicaid-linked fraud tied to housing supports, autism therapy, and other services. In public reporting and testimony, estimates have climbed as high as $9 billion or more since 2018, spread across 14 programs flagged as high risk.

Prosecutors say a large share of defendants in major cases, often reported as about 85% to 90%, are of Somali descent. Walz and some community leaders have pushed back against broad claims about the community, arguing that sweeping labels are unfair and inflammatory.

The fraud has been described as among the largest U.S. cases tied to pandemic-era relief. Some allegations also point to overseas links, including concerns about connections to groups such as Al-Shabaab, though those claims are still being investigated.

Political Pressure and Demands for Answers

The fallout has been intense and partisan. Republican lawmakers and some federal officials have blamed Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison for what they describe as an overly trusting culture that made the scams easier to pull off. Whistleblowers, including Bernstein, have given testimony or statements to Congress describing ignored reports and a hostile work environment at DHS.

Bernstein’s story also fits a broader pattern raised by other employees. Several workers have claimed their warnings were dismissed, or they faced punishment after speaking up. A congressional document has described allegations that include electronic monitoring and threats of being shut out of future state jobs.

Tim Walz’s administration has disputed the $9 billion estimate and says it has taken steps to fight fraud, including forming task forces. Critics say those efforts came late and only after insiders had sounded the alarm for years.

Bernstein Keeps Speaking Out

Bernstein says the cost has been lasting, including damage to her reputation, isolation at work, and ongoing stress. Still, she continues to speak publicly. Her account points to deeper breakdowns inside DHS that, in her view, allowed fraud to spread and grow unchecked.

As federal investigations continue through subpoenas, searches, and more convictions, Bernstein’s experience highlights the risks whistleblowers say they face inside government agencies. For Minnesota taxpayers, the scandal isn’t only about the money. It’s also about trust in programs meant to protect people who need help.

The full scope of the fraud, and who should be held responsible for missing or ignoring warnings, is still coming into view. Bernstein’s claims have kept attention on that question, and she says she won’t stop pushing for answers.

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – President Donald Trump is expected to sign an executive order naming Vice President JD Vance as chair of a new White House anti-fraud task force, according to multiple people familiar with the plans.

The task force under JD Vance will focus on alleged welfare abuse and improper payments tied to California and several other states.

The task force has been taking shape for weeks and marks a more public phase of the administration’s campaign against fraud in federal benefit programs. Vance, a former U.S. senator from Ohio who has often criticized large safety-net programs, will lead the effort.

Federal Trade Commission Chairman Andrew Ferguson is expected to serve as vice chair and run day-to-day work, sources said.

Sources briefed on the planning told CBS News the order could be signed as soon as this week. One person described Vance’s role as a signal that the issue sits near the top of the president’s agenda, not just another routine review.

Why JD Vance is headed to California

Republicans have long pointed to California’s large public programs as a risk point for fraud. The task force is expected to look closely at Medi-Cal (California’s Medicaid program), unemployment insurance, pandemic-era relief programs, and child care subsidies.

Audits and reviews in recent years have flagged large amounts of questionable spending, including billions tied to improper claims during and after the COVID-19 period. Vance has also argued publicly that California’s fraud problem is larger than other widely covered cases, including a Minnesota welfare fraud scandal that drew national attention.

“It’s happening in states like Ohio. It’s happening in states like California,” Vance has said when talking about misuse of federal funds.

The task force plans to examine how federal dollars move through California’s social service systems, including eligibility checks and payment controls.

The new task force follows earlier administration steps, including freezes on certain federal funds to states accused of weak oversight. While the group’s mission is nationwide, California has become a main focus. Supporters say tougher audits protect taxpayers and help benefits reach people who qualify.

California officials call it a political attack

California’s Democratic leaders quickly pushed back. State Attorney General Rob Bonta spoke Thursday in Los Angeles, calling the administration’s claims reckless and politically driven.

Bonta said California has been active in fraud cases and has recovered nearly $2.7 billion through criminal and civil actions since 2016. He cited $740 million tied to Medi-Cal matters, $2 billion recovered under the state’s False Claims Act, and $108 million connected to underground economy tax fraud investigations.

“Trump is out there falsely claiming that California is somehow the problem, baselessly claiming that California programs and public servants are perpetrating fraud, when in reality we are the victim of fraud,” Bonta said.

He added that fraud schemes hit states of all political stripes, including Republican-led Texas and Florida, along with Ohio. Bonta also took a shot at Vance’s role, saying the vice president should look closer to home instead of leading what he called an unnecessary political stunt aimed at California.

Concerns about the impact on people who rely on aid

State officials and advocates worry a high-profile federal crackdown could disrupt legitimate benefits, scare off eligible families, or be used to justify bigger policy changes aimed at Democratic-led states. Critics also point to the administration’s past pardons in fraud cases and argue that it undercuts the message of strict enforcement.

The announcement lands in the middle of ongoing tension between the Trump administration and blue states, especially California. Trump has targeted the state on immigration, environmental rules, and other issues, and the new task force fits that pattern of using executive power to increase scrutiny of state-run programs paid for in part with federal funds.

Supporters, including conservative commentators and some budget watchdogs, say the move is overdue. They argue that rising debt and pressure on entitlement spending make tighter controls necessary. They also say putting Vance and Ferguson in visible roles gives the effort more weight than a typical inspector general review.

Skeptics warn that aggressive investigations can create new paperwork hurdles and lead to mistaken benefit cuts, which often hit low-income residents hardest.

As the executive order details roll out, the task force is expected to coordinate with federal agencies that oversee key programs, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Small Business Administration, and others.

Whether the task force uncovers widespread abuse or runs into court fights is still unknown. For now, the move has revived a familiar argument in American politics: how to balance fraud enforcement, program access, and the federal government’s role in overseeing state-run benefits.

With Vance in the lead role, the effort also puts the vice president front and center on one of the White House’s main domestic priorities, a position that could raise his profile inside the administration and beyond.

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