Nevada Democrats Threaten Lawsuit Over SAVE America Act

As the U.S. Senate considers the SAVE America Act, Nevada Democrats are preparing to sue if the bill passes, vowing legal challenges against federal election integrity measures requiring proof of citizenship and in-person registration.

Nevada Secretary of State Francisco “Cisco” Aguilar told The Center Square his office is “preparing for litigation” against the legislation, which passed the House 218-213 in February. The bill aims to safeguard elections by mandating proof of citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate.

Aguilar dismissed noncitizen voting as “not an issue” in Nevada, despite past DOJ scrutiny of his office for delays in providing voter roll data. This resistance mirrors tactics long used by California Democrats against voter ID and citizenship verification efforts, including Aguilar’s refusal to fully cooperate with federal voter registration audits.

Meanwhile, Nevada voters will decide Question 7 — the Require Voter Identification Initiative — on the November 2026 ballot. The initiated constitutional amendment, which passed with strong support (73.2%) in 2024 and now seeks final approval, would require photo identification for in-person voting and additional verification for mail ballots, enshrining the requirement in the state constitution.

This comes as Nevada grapples with an influx of Californians fleeing high taxes and progressive policies, which has impacted the Democratic voter registration edge and helped Republicans gain ground.

Just last month, Nevada Democrats welcomed California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Las Vegas, embracing policies driving the cross-border exodus. Meanwhile, California faces its own battles, with a voter ID initiative gathering over one million signatures for the November 2026 ballot amid fierce opposition.

Public support for the SAVE America Act remains strong: a recent Harvard survey showed 71% bipartisan backing, including 50% of Democrats. With Republicans holding 53 Senate seats, the bill faces an uphill battle for the 60 votes needed to advance, unless Republican leadership nukes the filibuster.