On March 26, 2025, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order that aims to implement significant changes to the U.S. election process. The order includes a requirement for documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections, along with stipulations that all ballots must be received by Election Day.
This action builds on Trump’s ongoing focus on election integrity, following his claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election. The order underscores his administration’s broader effort to reform election procedures, although it is expected to face swift legal challenges due to the established power states hold in determining their own election rules.
Requiring Proof of Citizenship
The most significant provision of the executive order is the introduction of a documentary proof of citizenship requirement for voter registration. According to reports, this measure could impact millions of U.S. citizens who lack ready access to proof of their citizenship.
Estimates suggest that around 9% of U.S. citizens of voting age, or 21.3 million people, do not have immediate access to necessary documentation, such as passports or birth certificates.
Voting rights groups have raised concerns that the requirement could disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Specifically, individuals who have changed their names, such as married women, could encounter difficulties during registration, as some states require birth certificates listing maiden names, rather than the name on current identification.
In addition, the order mandates that states share their voter lists with federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security to help identify non-citizens. These measures aim to reduce the risk of ineligible individuals voting in federal elections, though the legal implications of such data sharing remain uncertain.
Legal and Political Ramifications
Trump’s executive order is set to face significant opposition, particularly from states’ rights advocates. U.S. constitutional law experts note that election laws are typically under the jurisdiction of state governments, not the federal government.
The Constitution grants states the authority to determine the “times, places, and manner” of elections, a principle that has long been upheld by the courts.
The executive order also stipulates that states must submit their voting procedures to federal scrutiny and share information on suspected election crimes, or risk losing federal funding. This move has already been criticised by key Democratic figures, who argue that the order could be a violation of state authority, and could hinder voter access.
Legal challenges to the order are expected, particularly given its potential to change how elections are conducted in certain states. With Congress’s power to regulate voting also in question, the outcome of these challenges will likely set a significant precedent for future election laws.
Wait and see what democrats have to say about it is racist because blacks can only come up with proper identification to receive welfare not to vote.