Listen to this articleWASHINGTON – On Tuesday, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order aimed at tightening regulations on mail-in voting across the country. This directive instructs his administration to compile a list of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote in every state. The announcement drew immediate backlash from voting rights organizations and Democratic leaders, who are expected to mount legal challenges against the measure.
The executive order proposes utilizing federal data to assist state election officials in verifying voter eligibility. Additionally, it mandates that absentee ballots be distributed exclusively to individuals on each state’s authorized mail-in ballot list. Furthermore, the directive calls for secure ballot envelopes that feature unique tracking barcodes to enhance accountability.
Trump expressed confidence in the legal standing of his order, suggesting it would withstand potential challenges in court. He emphasized that only a judicial ruling could halt its implementation and voiced frustration over what he termed “rogue” judges.
“I don’t see how they can challenge it,” Trump asserted.
However, voting rights advocates, along with election experts and Democratic officials, quickly contested his assertion. They maintain that efforts by the federal government to impose changes on state-run election systems would likely face significant legal obstacles.
“This order is not only unconstitutional, but it also lacks seriousness,” stated NAACP President Derrick Johnson in a public statement. “There’s no way this order will prevail.”
David Becker, the executive director of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, took to social media to describe the order as “clearly unconstitutional,” declaring that it would be challenged immediately. He quipped that the president “might as well sign an EO banning gravity.”
California Governor Gavin Newsom also responded, stating on platform X that “The President wants to limit which Americans can participate in our democracy. California will see him in court.”
The Republican President has long promoted the unfounded belief that his 2020 election loss was influenced by widespread voter fraud. Ahead of the November midterm elections, he has called for stricter regulations on mail-in voting, particularly as his party seeks to maintain its slender majorities in Congress.
This executive order arrives as the Senate considers the SAVE America Act, a legislative initiative that Trump has prioritized, claiming it would benefit Republicans in the upcoming midterms.
This bill, which was approved by the House in February, seeks to institute proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and require a photo ID for casting a ballot. However, its passage in the Senate remains uncertain, as Republicans do not possess the 60 votes necessary to overcome Democratic opposition.
Interestingly, Trump’s strong stance against mail-in voting did not inhibit him from casting his own vote via mail during a recent special election in Florida. When questioned about this, he remarked that he submitted a ballot by mail because “I’m president” and highlighted his various responsibilities.
Historically, the President has employed executive action to direct federal agencies to assist states with voter citizenship verification. He has also sought to prohibit states from counting mail ballots that arrive after Election Day, a clear challenge to state-defined election processes.
Reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; editing by Scott Malone, Michelle Nichols, Colleen Jenkins, and Chris Reese.
