John Carley, South Dakota state senator for District 29, said that he supports the SAVE America Act, arguing that only U.S. citizens should be eligible to vote and that proof-of-citizenship requirements would strengthen election integrity.
His remarks come amid ongoing national debate over voter identification and citizenship verification rules, with states increasingly adopting or considering related election laws.
“Elections are one of our most sacred duties in the United States and making sure only Citizens are voting in those elections is not only a common sense concept but supported by almost all Americans,” Said Carley.
“We hope our states recent passage two weeks ago of the Save South Dakota Act by Senator Carley (SB175) and supported by the Freedom Caucus will actually encourage the Save America Act to be passed at the federal level. So we are prepared in South Dakota and our legislature has expressed overwhelming confidence in this type of legislation,” he added.
At the state level, South Dakota enacted Senate Bill 175 on March 26, 2026, when Gov. Larry Rhoden signed the measure into law. The legislation requires documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote, placing South Dakota among states advancing stricter voter eligibility rules, according to South Dakota State News.
At the federal level, a related effort stalled the same day when a Senate cloture vote tied to voter ID provisions in the SAVE America Act failed 53–47, falling short of the 60 votes needed to advance. The official roll call showed South Dakota Sens. John Thune and Mike Rounds voting in favor of moving the measure forward.
Polling has consistently shown broad public support for voter ID requirements.Â
A Pew Research Center survey conducted in August 2025 found that 83% of U.S. adults support requiring government-issued photo identification to vote, including 60% who strongly support it. Support was bipartisan, with 95% of Republicans and 71% of Democrats in favor, while 16% opposed.
Carley also serves as secretary and treasurer of the South Dakota Freedom Caucus and sponsored SB175, placing him at the center of the state’s proof-of-citizenship legislation.
