Washington, D.C. – US President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Wednesday aimed at overhauling the country’s election system. The new order introduces stricter voting regulations, including a requirement for documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and a mandate that all ballots must be received by election day.
Trump calls for stronger election security
The order, which criticises the current election process, states that the US has failed to implement “basic and necessary election protections”. Trump’s directive calls on state governments to cooperate with federal agencies by sharing voter lists and prosecuting election-related crimes. Additionally, the order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that refuse to comply with these new measures.
In defence of his decision, Trump cited election practices in India, Brazil, Denmark, and Sweden, commending India and Brazil for “tying voter identification to a biometric database”, while noting that the US largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.
However, the Associated Press reports that Trump’s order is expected to face legal challenges, as states hold the primary authority to set their own election rules.
A continuation of Trump’s election claims
Trump’s latest order is in line with his longstanding criticism of the US election process. Since his defeat to Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, Trump has repeatedly claimed that the election was fraudulent, despite a lack of evidence to support his allegations.
A key focus of Trump’s criticism has been mail-in voting, which he has often described as “insecure” and vulnerable to fraud. However, as mail-in voting has grown in popularity, including among Republican voters, Trump has since adjusted his stance, admitting that while fraud exists, it is rare, limited in scope, and prosecuted when detected.
The new executive order shows that Trump is not waiting for congressional Republicans to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which seeks to implement similar voter ID requirements. Republican lawmakers have defended the move, arguing that it is essential to restoring public confidence in America’s elections.
Concerns over voter disenfranchisement
Voting rights groups have raised serious concerns over the new requirements, warning that requiring proof of citizenship could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters.
A 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice estimated that 9% of voting-age US citizens—roughly 21.3 million people—do not have proof of citizenship readily available.
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Additionally, the new rules could disproportionately impact married women who have changed their last names. Many of these women may face difficulties registering to vote, as their birth certificates list their maiden names, creating a bureaucratic hurdle.
Judicial challenges expected
Legal experts anticipate that Trump’s executive order will face immediate court challenges, given that the US Constitution grants states the authority to administer elections.
While Congress has some power to regulate voting, the Constitution states that “the time, place, and manner” of elections are determined by individual states. As a result, legal challenges may argue that Trump’s order oversteps executive authority.
Trump’s push for election reforms comes at a time when both parties are gearing up for the 2024 presidential race. With the new voting restrictions likely to face legal battles, the fate of Trump’s executive order remains uncertain.
For now, millions of American voters may soon face stricter requirements when registering to vote, sparking an intense debate over the balance between election security and voter access.
