Securing our Elections Act of 2025
HB156, titled the Securing our Elections Act of 2025, would require voters in federal elections to present photo identification as a condition of casting a ballot. For in-person voting, election officials could not issue a ballot unless the voter shows a valid photo ID. If a voter lacks the required ID, the bill allows a provisional ballot, but the ballot would only be counted if the voter presents acceptable identification or a state-provided affidavit within three days stating that the voter does not have the ID because of a religious objection to being photographed.
For mail or other non-in-person voting, the bill would require a voter to submit either a copy of a valid photo ID or the last four digits of a Social Security number plus an affidavit stating that the voter could not obtain a copy of a valid photo ID after reasonable efforts. It exempts absent uniformed services voters serving overseas. The bill also requires states to provide free photo IDs to people who cannot afford them or otherwise cannot obtain them after reasonable efforts, and to make public access to copying/scanning equipment available in certain government buildings so voters can make copies of IDs at no cost. States must notify voter-registration applicants, including online applicants, about the photo ID requirement.
The bill would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 by adding a new section 303A on photo identification requirements, updating enforcement and guidance provisions, and making conforming changes to existing HAVA text. It also removes existing HAVA photo-ID-related requirements tied to voters who register by mail and replaces them with the new federal photo ID framework. The requirements would apply to federal elections held in 2026 and later.
The overall sentiment reflected in the bill text is strongly supportive of voter photo identification as an election-integrity measure, emphasizing security, fraud prevention, and public confidence in elections. The findings cite bipartisan and international support for ID requirements and note that many states already require some form of identification. No committee debate or vote history is provided, so there is no recorded opposition or amendment activity in the available context.
The main points of contention implied by the bill are access and burden on voters who may not have acceptable identification, especially low-income voters, voters without easy access to documents, and some absentee voters. The bill attempts to address those concerns through free IDs, affidavit alternatives, and provisional ballots, but it still imposes a new federal voting condition and could be viewed as more restrictive than current law. The overseas military exemption and the religious-objection affidavit are notable carveouts that suggest the bill anticipates legal and practical objections to a universal photo-ID mandate.
HB156 would significantly change federal election law by adding a nationwide photo identification requirement for voting in elections for federal office, effective in 2026. It would amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to require states to verify voter identity through specified photo IDs, create provisional-ballot procedures, provide free IDs in some cases, and give notice of the requirement during voter registration. It would also alter existing HAVA provisions related to mail-in registration and enforcement to conform to the new photo-ID regime, affecting state election administrators, voters, and the Election Assistance Commission.
The bill is framed in strongly pro-election-security terms and reflects a clear preference for uniform photo-ID rules. Its findings emphasize fraud prevention, democratic integrity, and broad public support for identification requirements. Because there are no committee transcripts or votes available, the record does not show any formal opposition or bipartisan negotiation, but the text itself suggests the sponsors view the measure as a common-sense integrity reform rather than a partisan change.
The central controversy is the balance between election security and voter access. Supporters are likely to argue that photo ID is a reasonable safeguard and that the bill includes accommodations such as free IDs, provisional ballots, and affidavit options. Critics would likely focus on the possibility that some eligible voters may still face barriers obtaining acceptable identification, especially if they lack documents, transportation, time, or the ability to navigate state procedures. The non-in-person voting requirements, the limited affidavit exceptions, and the repeal of prior HAVA mail-registration ID provisions are likely to be the most debated features.