U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at reforming voting rules and regulations across the country. The sweeping directive introduces several key measures, including requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voters and barring non-citizens from making financial contributions to political campaigns. The order has been framed as an effort to enhance election security and maintain public confidence in the integrity of the voting process, with the Trump administration emphasizing the need for greater transparency and accountability in the system.

Key Provisions of the Executive Order

One of the most notable aspects of the order is the requirement for voters to furnish proof of U.S. citizenship before casting a ballot. Trump pointed to election practices in countries like India and Brazil, where voter identification is linked to biometric databases, contrasting them with Americas existing patchwork system, which largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship verification. He argued that adopting a stricter approach would prevent election fraud and ensure that only eligible citizens participate in the democratic process.

Additionally, the order:

• Mandates that states prosecute election-related crimes and share voter lists with federal agencies to improve oversight and enforcement.
• Requires compliance with the directive in order to receive federal election funding, ensuring that state-level election practices align with federal guidelines.
• Directs the Attorney General to prioritize the enforcement of federal election integrity laws in states that fail to report suspected election crimes, with penalties for non-compliance.
• Orders federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security, Social Security Administration, and the State Department, to share data to help identify non-citizens on voter rolls, facilitating more accurate voter registration records.
• Aims to ensure that votes are “cast and received” by Election Day, making federal funding conditional on compliance with this requirement, in an effort to standardize the timeline for ballot counting and reduce delays in results.
• Instructs the Election Assistance Commission to amend guidelines to prohibit voting systems that use barcodes or QR codes in the vote-counting process, citing concerns about election security and the potential for tampering.
• The directive also emphasizes the role of state election officials in maintaining up-to-date and accurate voter rolls, with a requirement for periodic audits and cross-referencing of voter registration databases with federal records.

Republican National Committee Initiative and Voter List Scrutiny

This executive action aligns with a new initiative by the Republican National Committee (RNC), which has launched a nationwide effort to scrutinize voter registration maintenance. The RNC has sent public records requests to election officials in 48 states and Washington, D.C., seeking information on how states remove ineligible individuals, including deceased persons and non-citizens, from voter rolls. Republican officials have argued that outdated and inaccurate voter lists contribute to election vulnerabilities and have advocated for stricter list maintenance protocols.

In addition to targeting voter roll maintenance, the RNC is expected to push for state-level legislative reforms that mirror the provisions in Trump’s executive order. Party leaders have signaled their intent to introduce measures that reinforce election security, potentially including expanded voter ID requirements and increased oversight of mail-in voting processes.

Potential Challenges and Concerns

Voting rights advocates have raised concerns that the proof of citizenship requirement may disenfranchise eligible voters. According to a 2023 report by the Brennan Center for Justice, approximately 21.3 million American citizens of voting ageabout 9% of the voting populationlack readily available proof of citizenship. Critics argue that the new requirements may place undue burdens on elderly voters, low-income individuals, and naturalized citizens who may not have immediate access to necessary documentation.

There are also concerns about the impact on married women who have changed their names. Instances of registration difficulties have already been reported in states like New Hampshire, where a recent law requiring proof of citizenship caused issues for voters whose birth certificates listed maiden names instead of married names. Similar challenges have been noted in other states, where mismatches between official documents and voter registration records have led to delays and confusion during elections.

The directive to ensure all votes are cast and received by Election Day could also face resistance. Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico allow mailed ballots to be counted if they are postmarked on or before Election Day but received afterward. Critics argue that this new mandate could disproportionately impact military personnel, overseas voters, and individuals in remote areas who rely on mail-in voting.

Constitutional and Legal Challenges

Trumps executive order is expected to be legally challenged. The U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to regulate elections, with Congress holding some power to impose federal regulations. However, states primarily control the “times, places, and manner” of elections, which could lead to legal pushback against federal intervention. Legal experts suggest that some provisions of the order may be contested on the grounds that they infringe upon states rights.