Trump signs executive order that will change future elections
President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping new executive order that could fundamentally alter how future U.S. elections are conducted — a move already sparking intense political and legal battles nationwide.
At 78, Trump has issued nearly 100 executive orders since returning to office in January, but none have stirred debate quite like this one. Signed on Tuesday, the order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections” requires all voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering for federal elections. Supporters call it a necessary step to safeguard election integrity; critics call it an unconstitutional act of voter suppression.
According to the administration, the change is meant to ensure that American elections remain “free, fair, and honest.” The order cites other countries — including India and Brazil — that use biometric or national ID systems to verify voters, arguing that the United States must modernize its election security.
Under the new mandate, anyone registering to vote must present official proof of citizenship, such as:
- A valid U.S. passport
- A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID
- A military identification card
- Or other federally approved government-issued photo ID
Without one of these documents, individuals — even eligible citizens — will be barred from voting in federal elections. The order also compels state election offices to share voter registration data with the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department to identify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.
Another major change targets mail-in voting. The order requires all ballots to be received by election day, eliminating the current practice in 18 states and Puerto Rico where ballots postmarked by election day are still counted if received later. Critics argue this could disenfranchise thousands of legitimate voters, especially military personnel and absentee voters.
Legal experts are already lining up to challenge the order. Rick Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, called it “an executive power grab,” warning that it undermines the Constitution’s separation of powers by shifting election control from the states to Washington. Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice stated bluntly that “the president cannot override a statute passed by Congress.”
Adding to the controversy, the order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that fail to comply — a pressure tactic many see as coercive and potentially illegal.
During the signing, Trump defended his decision, saying: “You’ve heard the term ‘election fraud.’ We’re going to end it. This is how we start.” His supporters hailed it as a bold move to restore confidence in American democracy. Opponents, however, see it as an attack on voting rights. Jena Griswold, Colorado’s secretary of state, labeled the order “unlawful and deeply anti-democratic,” accusing Trump of trying to suppress voters under the guise of reform.
Whether the executive order will survive judicial scrutiny remains uncertain. But one thing is clear: it has reignited America’s fiercest political battle — who gets to vote, and who gets to decide how.