Former President Donald Trump has signed a highly debated executive order that could change future federal elections in the United States.
Since taking office in January, the 78-year-old Republican has issued nearly 100 executive orders, according to the Federal Register. These have included actions like renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America and proposing to dismantle the Department of Education.
But his latest order is drawing serious criticism, with some experts warning it could limit access to voting for millions of Americans.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an order titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections."
The order introduces a new rule requiring voters to provide proof of U.S. citizenship when registering for federal elections. The administration claims the change is meant to keep elections “free, fair, and honest,” and protect against fraud.
“The United States fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing,” the order states, referencing biometric voter ID systems used in countries like India and Brazil.
Stricter Voter ID Requirements
According to the Associated Press and Newsner, the new order will require voters to present official proof of citizenship in order to register.
Acceptable documents include:
A U.S. passport
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID
A military ID card
Other government-issued photo ID that meets federal standards
Anyone unable to provide these documents would no longer be allowed to vote in future federal elections.
The order also directs state election officials to work closely with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department. These agencies will help verify voter rolls and remove noncitizens from registration databases.
Changes to Mail-In Voting
Another key part of the order deals with mail-in ballots. It requires that all mail-in ballots must be received by election day. This would overturn the rules in 18 states and Puerto Rico, where ballots postmarked by election day can still be counted if they arrive later.
Legal experts expect that this executive order will face major legal challenges.
Rick Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, described it as an “executive power grab” that could shift election control from the states to the federal government. Similarly, Wendy Weiser of the Brennan Center for Justice argued that a president “cannot override a statute passed by Congress” when it comes to how voter registration is handled.
The order also threatens to cut off federal funding to states that do not follow the new rules—a move that critics say could dramatically change how elections are run across the U.S.
At the signing, Trump stated, “Election fraud. You’ve heard the term. We’re going to end it, hopefully. At least this will go a long way toward ending it.”
But many critics see the order as a form of voter suppression.
Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Democratic secretary of state, called it “unlawful” and accused Trump of trying to reduce voter turnout.
With past attempts to pass strict voter ID laws blocked in Congress, this executive order is likely to spark lengthy legal battles. While it's unclear whether it will survive judicial review, the order has already reignited fierce debate over voting rights in America.
