Since his inauguration in January, the 78-year-old Republican has signed roughly 100 executive orders, according to the Federal Register. These have included rebranding the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America and dissolving the Department of Education. His recent directive, however, has sparked fierce discussion, with some experts warning that it might disenfranchise millions of voters.
On Tuesday, Trump signed Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, a broad order requiring voters to present evidence of US citizenship when registering for federal elections. The government claims the action is required to keep elections “free, fair, and honest,” devoid of fraud and suspicion.
“The United States fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing,” the decision adds, citing biometric voter identification methods used in India and Brazil.
New voter identification requirements
According to the Associated Press, the new rule requires eligible voters to provide verifiable evidence of citizenship, such as:
A US passport.
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state identification
A military ID card.
Other government-issued picture identification meets federal criteria.
Without one of these papers, US citizens will be unable to vote in future federal elections.
The directive also compels state election officials to collaborate with federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, to exchange voter registration information. According to officials, such exchanges will assist in identifying and removing noncitizens from voter records.
Legal challenges and adjustments to mail-in voting
The ruling additionally requires that all mail-in votes be received before election day. Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico allow ballots mailed before election day to be tallied if received after that date, but the move would be prohibited.
Legal experts expect that Trump’s decree will encounter serious legal hurdles. UCLA law professor Rick Hasen described it as an “executive power grab” that might transfer election control from states to the federal government. Meanwhile, Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice claimed that the president “cannot override a statute passed by Congress” governing voter registration procedures.
Furthermore, the directive threatens to withdraw federal funds from states that do not comply with the new standards, a move that opponents believe has the potential to transform how elections are handled nationwide.
During the signing ceremony, Trump informed reporters: “Electoral fraud has occurred.” You have heard the term. We hope to finish it soon. At the very least, our efforts will contribute significantly to its conclusion.”
Opponents believe that the order will make it difficult for many Americans to vote. Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Democratic secretary of state, described it as “unlawful” and an attempt to limit voter participation.
With previous attempts to establish voter ID legislation failing in Congress, court fights over Trump’s current action are likely certain. It is unclear if the order would withstand court review, but one thing is certain: it has rekindled a heated discussion in America about voting rights.