On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that enforces extensive modifications to the US election system, such as mandating documentary evidence of citizenship for voter registration and guaranteeing that all ballots arrive by election day. The upcoming regulations are anticipated to encounter swift legal disputes.
The order claimed that the US has not “implemented fundamental and essential election safeguards” and encouraged states to work with federal authorities to exchange voter lists and take legal action against election-related offenses. It further cautioned that states whose election officials do not adhere could encounter reductions in federal funding, reported the AP news agency.
The broad order modifies the federal voter registration form to require proof of citizenship, like a passport, for qualifying to vote in federal elections. Moreover, the order also forbids states from counting mail-in ballots that arrive after election day, no matter when they were postmarked.
This move corresponds with Trump’s ongoing assertions of election irregularities and fraud, particularly concerning mail-in voting, which he has consistently condemned despite limited evidence of recorded fraud. The proof of citizenship requirement in the order aligns with the goals of the Republican-supported Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
During the signing of the order on Tuesday, Trump mentioned the supposed election fraud and stated, “this will hopefully put an end to it.”
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Republican legislators have expressed their backing for the directive, claiming it’s essential for reinstating public trust in election integrity. Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger emphasized that the “directive guarantees that only U.S. citizens determine U.S. elections.” Voting rights groups and Democrats have criticized the decree, raising alarms about possible voter disenfranchisement.
A report from 2023 revealed that around 9 percent of qualifying US citizens, equating to 21.3 million individuals, do not have easily accessible documentation of citizenship. Additionally, at present, 18 states and Puerto Rico acknowledge mailed ballots that arrive after Election Day if they are postmarked on or prior to that date.
Concerns have also been expressed about possible registration problems for married women whose names have changed since their birth certificates were created.
