Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar said state officials are preparing to challenge the SAVE America Act in court if the measure is enacted, signaling an early legal fight over federal election policy ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The legislation, passed by the House in a narrow 218–213 vote, would impose new federal requirements, including in-person voter registration and documentation proving U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate. Supporters argue the measure is intended to strengthen election integrity and restore public confidence in voting systems.

Aguilar said Nevada is already laying the groundwork for litigation, arguing that implementation of the bill should be delayed through the courts. He said the objective would be to extend any legal proceedings beyond the upcoming election cycle, ensuring what he described as a stable voting environment during the current period.

Republican supporters, including Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, have defended the legislation as a necessary safeguard, saying it addresses concerns about noncitizen voting and has broad public support. Petersen described the issue as central to restoring trust in elections and criticized delays in advancing similar measures in the Senate.

Aguilar rejected the premise of widespread noncitizen voting, citing state-level data he said showed only a handful of such cases in prior elections. He also argued that existing voter registration systems already require individuals to verify their identity before participating in elections.

The debate comes amid broader efforts by President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers to advance election law changes ahead of 2026, including stricter voter ID requirements and limits on mail-in voting. Several Democrat-led states have responded with legal challenges, arguing that such measures could affect voter access and participation.

Nevada has already joined other states in suing over federal voting-related directives, underscoring a widening legal and political conflict over election administration. While the SAVE America Act faces uncertain prospects in the Senate, the dispute signals continued partisan division over how U.S. elections should be regulated going into the next election cycle.