Florida Voting Laws Tighten with New Proof-of-Citizenship Requirement

TALLAHASSEE, FL – Florida lawmakers have approved a bill that will require voters to prove U.S. Citizenship before being allowed to cast a ballot, a move mirroring calls from former President Donald Trump for stricter voting regulations. The legislation, signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, will not take effect until January 2027, after the November midterm elections.

New Requirements and Accepted Forms of ID

Currently, it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in Florida, a prohibition enshrined in the state constitution in 2020. However, proponents of the new law argue it will further safeguard election integrity. To register to vote, Floridians will need to provide one of the following forms of identification:

• A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license
• A U.S. Birth certificate
• A current and valid U.S. Passport
• A Consular Report of Birth Abroad from the U.S. Department of State
• A naturalization certificate, certificate of citizenship, certificate number, or an alien registration number issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
• A current and valid photo identification issued by the federal government or from Florida that indicates U.S. Citizenship
• An order from a federal court granting U.S. Citizenship

The law will not affect voters who have already had their citizenship verified through a REAL ID-compliant Florida driver’s license. As of January 2026, over 20.6 million Floridians hold such licenses, while approximately 872,408 do not according to the state’s Office of Election Crimes and Security.

Concerns Over Voter Access

Critics of the law express concern that it will disproportionately affect eligible voters who may not have easy access to the required documentation. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that more than 9% of voting-age U.S. Citizens do not have proof of citizenship readily available .

During legislative debate, some lawmakers highlighted the challenges faced by individuals born at home in states like South Carolina during the Jim Crow era, who may not have a birth certificate. Concerns were also raised about the potential for disenfranchising young voters, as student IDs will no longer be accepted as a form of identification. Other IDs removed from the acceptable list include retirement center IDs, neighborhood association IDs, military IDs, and debit or credit cards.

Federal Alignment and Trump’s Push for Voter Integrity

The Florida legislation echoes the “Save America Act” passed by the U.S. House of Representatives, which also calls for proof of citizenship to vote and voter ID requirements. Former President Donald Trump has been a vocal advocate for stricter voting laws, demanding that Congress pass a similar measure and threatening to boycott signing other legislation until it does . Trump addressed House Republicans at a summit in Doral, Florida, on March 10, 2026, emphasizing the importance of the voting legislation .

Additional Provisions

Beyond the proof-of-citizenship requirement, the new law includes provisions requiring federal candidates in Florida to disclose whether they intend to trade stocks if elected and prohibits individuals from running for office if they changed their legal name within 365 days of the qualifying deadline (with exceptions for marriage, divorce, or adoption).

The Florida Supervisors of Elections did not take a position on the bill, but provided comments during the legislative process, some of which were incorporated into the final version .