President Donald Trump has pledged to issue an executive order mandating voter ID nationwide. The proposed directive would also restrict mail-in voting to only the seriously ill and military personnel stationed abroad.
The announcement was made Saturday night via Truth Social, signalling a direct move to reshape federal voting procedures without waiting for congressional action. Trump’s proposal follows his earlier March order demanding documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
If enacted, the executive order would introduce uniform requirements for in-person voting across all states—potentially affecting millions of voters. The move also raises questions about the scope of presidential power over state-administered elections.
Proposed Voter ID Law Adds New Layer to Existing Regulations
Trump’s announcement marks a significant expansion of his administration’s efforts to overhaul voting procedures. In March, he had already mandated that voters provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register in federal elections. That order also required all ballots to be received by Election Day and threatened federal funding for states not in compliance.
According to Newsweek, the proposed executive order now extends these requirements to the voting process itself. Under this new directive, every voter would be required to present identification at the ballot box—“No exceptions,” according to Trump’s post. He also stated that mail-in voting should be restricted to the “very ill” and “far away military,” reiterating his long-standing support for paper ballots over electronic systems.
Currently, voter ID laws differ significantly by state. While some require photo identification, others allow non-photo documents or even signed affidavits. Trump’s order, if implemented, would impose a nationwide standard, overriding state-level discretion. Critics have already raised constitutional concerns, given that federal elections are administered by individual states, not the federal government.
Civil Liberties Groups Warn of Potential Disenfranchisement
Legal and voting rights organizations have voiced concern over the proposed directive’s potential impact on voter accessibility. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that more than 21 million U.S. citizens lack ready access to documentary proof of citizenship. This includes natural-born citizens who have lost documents, and married women whose birth certificates carry their maiden names.
According to the Brennan Center, similar identification requirements have already led to issues in local elections in states like New Hampshire, where administrative hurdles have discouraged eligible voters from participating. Civil liberties advocates fear that a nationwide voter ID mandate could disproportionately affect minority communities, the elderly, and low-income citizens.
While Trump maintains his stance is aimed at preventing voter fraud, election security officials and multiple studies have found such fraud to be exceedingly rare. Despite this, he continues to promote sweeping electoral reforms that critics argue are based on unfounded claims regarding the 2020 presidential election.
