Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Elections Through Executive Order Mandating New Voting Requirements

Trump Moves to Reshape U.S. Elections Through Executive Order Mandating New Voting Requirements

On Tuesday, President Trump signed a comprehensive executive order aimed at revamping the nation’s election system. The directive introduces stricter measures, including the requirement for documentary proof of citizenship when registering for federal elections and a nationwide mandate that all ballots must be received by Election Day.

The order asserts that the U.S. has “not adequately enforced Federal election requirements,” highlighting issues such as prohibiting states from counting ballots submitted past Election Day and preventing non-citizens from registering to vote.

Additionally, the order criticizes what it describes as a failure to enforce "basic and necessary election protections." It calls upon states to collaborate with federal agencies in sharing voter lists and prosecuting election-related crimes. Furthermore, President Trump has warned that states failing to comply with these measures could risk losing federal funding.

David Becker, CEO of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, expressed strong opposition to the order, calling it a "federal takeover of the constitutional authority of local and state governments to run elections." He also warned that the directive "seeks to seize authority over election technology and processes at the state and local level ... all while bypassing congressional approval."

Becker, who contributes election law analysis, projected that enforcing these changes could place a financial burden on state taxpayers, potentially amounting to tens of billions of dollars. However, he also noted that legal challenges could hinder the order's implementation.

While Congress has the power to regulate aspects of voting—having passed legislation such as the Voting Rights Act—the Constitution primarily grants states the authority to determine the "times, places, and manner" of their elections.

Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Democratic secretary of state, strongly condemned the order, calling it an “unlawful” misuse of federal authority. She accused President Trump of "trying to make it harder for voters to fight back at the ballot box." Similarly, Democratic Representative Joe Morelle of New York, the ranking member of the House committee responsible for election oversight, criticized the order, stating that it “is not just misguided—it is immoral and illegal.”

Some election-related powers do fall under the executive branch, according to Justin Levitt, a constitutional law scholar and former senior policy adviser in the Biden administration. Levitt pointed out that federal entities such as the U.S. Election Assistance Commission support election operations by distributing grant funds and running a voluntary certification program for voting systems. Additionally, the U.S. Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency plays a role in securing election infrastructure.

In 2021, President Biden had issued an executive order directing federal agencies to enhance voter registration efforts—a move that sparked criticism from Republicans, who viewed it as an overreach of federal power. President Trump has since rescinded that directive.

Under the new order, the Election Assistance Commission has been tasked with revising voting system guidelines to uphold election integrity. Specifically, the order insists that ballots should not incorporate barcodes or QR codes in the vote-counting process. It further advises that federal funding to states should be contingent upon adherence to these revised guidelines.

In Georgia and several other states, in-person voters currently use electronic machines featuring touchscreen interfaces. These devices generate paper ballots that include a human-readable summary of selections alongside a QR code, which scanners use to tabulate votes.

The potential impact of the executive order on Georgia and other jurisdictions utilizing such technology remains unclear. Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger did not provide an immediate response to inquiries on Tuesday evening. However, he later released a statement commending the order, referring to it as a "great first step for election integrity reform nationwide."

Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, who chairs the House committee overseeing elections, also praised the move, stating that the order is a "welcome action to secure our elections and prevent foreign influence."

Meanwhile, at least one Democratic attorney has already threatened legal action in response. Marc Elias, a frequent legal opponent of Trump, wrote in a social media post, "This will not stand. We will sue."

President Trump has consistently claimed that elections have been manipulated, even before official results were announced. Following his 2020 election loss to former President Joe Biden, he repeatedly attributed his defeat to widespread fraud—claims that have been widely discredited.

Trump stated that additional election-related actions would be forthcoming in the weeks ahead.