In a move to overhaul the U.S. election system, President Donald Trump has signed an executive order mandating stricter voter identification measures and reinforcing election integrity laws. The order, announced on March 25, aims to curb lax enforcement of voting protections, introducing sweeping reforms that include documentary proof of citizenship, federal oversight of voter rolls, and a crackdown on election-related crimes.
One of the most striking aspects of the order is its reference to India and Brazil as benchmarks for voter identification. The directive highlights the biometric-linked voter databases in these countries, contrasting them with the U.S.’s current reliance on self-attestation for citizenship verification.
“Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing. India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship,” the order states.
1. Mandatory Documentary Proof of Citizenship
Voters must provide official documentation proving U.S. citizenship before registering for federal elections. This provision bypasses the need for Congress to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a legislative proposal with a similar objective.
2. Election Crime Crackdown
States are required to prosecute election fraud cases or face the risk of losing federal funding. The U.S. Attorney General will prioritize the enforcement of federal election integrity laws, particularly in states that resist compliance.
3. Federal Oversight of Voter Rolls
State election officials must share voter registration records with federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency. This measure is designed to identify and remove ineligible voters, including non-citizens and deceased individuals.
4. Votes Must Be Cast and Received by Election Day
Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico accept mail-in ballots that arrive after Election Day if postmarked on or before that date. The order mandates that all ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted, aligning with Republican concerns over extended vote-counting timelines.
5. Ban on QR Code or Barcode-Based Ballots
The order instructs the Election Assistance Commission to revise federal voting system guidelines, prohibiting the use of QR codes or barcodes in the vote-counting process. Election systems must be re-certified within six months to align with these new standards.
6. Crackdown on Foreign Influence in Elections
The executive order prohibits foreign nationals from making financial contributions to U.S. elections, an issue that has gained prominence due to concerns over overseas funding, particularly from figures like Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss.
While the U.S. Constitution grants Congress the authority to regulate federal elections, it also affirms that states control the “times, places, and manner” of elections.
The executive order coincides with the Republican National Committee’s (RNC) nationwide investigation into voter roll maintenance. Public records requests have been sent to 48 states and Washington, D.C., seeking details on how election officials manage voter registration and remove ineligible voters. This move is part of a broader GOP effort to enforce stricter voting regulations ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
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