President Donald Trump takes aim at federal election procedures amid ongoing claims about voter fraud and election integrity.
According to AP News, Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that would require documentary proof of citizenship for federal election voter registration and mandate that all ballots must be received by Election Day.
The sweeping order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that don't comply with new requirements, including sharing voter lists with federal agencies and helping prosecute election-related crimes. The directive also instructs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to revise voting system guidelines, specifically targeting the use of barcodes and QR codes in vote counting.
The executive order's citizenship documentation mandate mirrors key provisions of the Republican-backed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which has not yet passed Congress. While voting by non-citizens in federal elections is already illegal and punishable as a felony, voting rights advocates warn the new requirements could disenfranchise eligible voters.
Recent data from the Brennan Center for Justice indicates that approximately 21.3 million U.S. citizens of voting age, roughly 9% of eligible voters, lack readily available proof of citizenship. Women who have changed their names after marriage may face particular challenges since their birth certificates contain their maiden names.
New Hampshire's recent implementation of similar citizenship proof requirements has already revealed potential complications in local elections. The state's experience provides a preview of possible nationwide impacts if Trump's order takes effect.
Under the executive order, multiple federal departments including Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, and State Department must provide election officials with data to help identify non-citizens on voter rolls. The directive emphasizes information sharing about suspected election crimes between state and federal authorities.
The attorney general is instructed to prioritize election law enforcement in states that don't cooperate with federal information sharing requirements. This provision signals an aggressive approach to election oversight and prosecution.
Trump's order also aims to standardize ballot receipt deadlines across the country. Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico accept mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day if postmarked by that date.
Constitutional experts anticipate swift legal opposition to the order, given states' primary authority over election administration. While Congress can regulate voting through legislation like the Voting Rights Act, the Constitution explicitly grants states power over election timing and procedures.
Democratic Rep. Joe Morelle of New York, who oversees election matters in the House, stated the executive action "is not just misguided — it is immoral and illegal." Democratic attorney Marc Elias has already announced plans to file suit. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold condemned the order as an unlawful attempt to weaponize federal power against voters. However, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger praised it as advancing election integrity.
Trump's executive order represents his administration's most ambitious attempt to reshape federal election procedures, building on his persistent claims about election security and fraud. The directive arrives as the Republican National Committee launches a nationwide investigation into voter roll maintenance practices across 48 states and Washington, D.C.
The sweeping changes ordered by President Trump would fundamentally alter how Americans register to vote and when ballots must be received in federal elections. While supporters praise the measures as necessary safeguards, critics warn of voter disenfranchisement and legal battles ahead over states' constitutional authority to manage their own elections.
