Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) confirmed that she is firmly opposed to the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act — a landmark election integrity bill that has become President Donald Trump’s top legislative priority — in a recent opinion piece published in the Wall Street Journal.
The SAVE America Act would require individuals registering to vote in federal elections to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or certified birth certificate, presented in person to an election official. It would also mandate photo identification when voting.
The bill aims to ensure that only U.S. citizens participate in federal elections.
“While I support the bill’s core tenets — ensuring that only American citizens vote and requiring identification when voting — I remain opposed to it,” Murkowski wrote.
“Why? Because it would have serious negative effects in Alaska, and the current text doesn’t allow for the time and resources needed for proper implementation.”
Murkowski has pointed to the U.S. Constitution’s assignment of responsibility for election administration to the states in voicing her opposition. She has also stated that states are best positioned to address local conditions, including geographic and infrastructure differences.
“The Constitution largely entrusts states with the administration and oversight of elections, providing authority to hold them at the ‘times, places, and manner’ of their choosing. This was deliberate because states are best positioned to understand local conditions ranging from geographic constraints to technological infrastructure,” she wrote in a previous opinion piece with the Anchorage Daily News.
Alaska’s geography also forms a central part of her objections. The state is more than twice the size of Texas, with only six regional election offices capable of handling in-person documentation requirements under the bill.
Roughly 80 percent of Alaska’s communities and about 20 percent of its population are not connected by road, requiring air or ferry travel for many residents.
Murkowski has, however, raised concerns about mail-in voting. Alaska allows no-excuse absentee voting by mail, with more than 50,000 Alaskans using this method in the 2024 general election.
The legislation includes strict identification requirements for mail ballots, and further changes proposed by supporters could limit mail voting except in narrow cases.
