“9% of American citizens don't have the identification that the SAVE Act requires to vote. Almost 1 in 10.”

In a March 18, 2026 post on X, Sen. Tammy Duckworth said that 9% of American citizens - almost 1 in 10 - lack the identification the SAVE Act would require to vote.

Her figure aligns with survey research. A widely cited 2023 University of Maryland study estimated that about 9% of voting-age citizens, roughly 21 million people, do not have a current, valid government-issued photo ID. Other national surveys land in a similar range.

The exact number depends on how a valid ID is defined and which survey is used, and the SAVE Act's documentary requirements are still being interpreted. But the roughly 9% figure is well supported, which is why PolitiFact rated the claim Mostly True.