Trump's Executive Order Outlines 5 Sweeping Changes That Could Reshape U.S. Election System
President Trump's latest executive order introduces significant changes to federal election procedures, focusing on security and voter verification. Here are the 5 key changes that could reshape U.S. elections:
- Mandatory Citizenship Verification
- Requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal election registration
- Acceptable documents include passports, REAL IDs, and military IDs
- Department of Homeland Security and SSA will support verification
- Strict Election Day Deadline
- All ballots must be received by Election Day
- No exceptions for late-arriving mail ballots, even if postmarked on time
- Non-compliant states risk losing federal election funding
- Federal Funding Compliance
- Election Assistance Commission to withhold funds from non-compliant states
- States must use certified voting systems with paper records
- Voter-verifiable ballots now required
- Enhanced DOJ Enforcement
- Prioritizes investigations into non-citizen voting
- Requires cross-agency coordination with DHS and SSA
- States must share voter information or risk losing federal grants
- Foreign Influence Prevention
- Strengthens enforcement against foreign campaign donations
- Bans proxy funding of ballot initiatives by foreign nationals
- Mandates DHS cybersecurity review of election systems
The order has sparked debate between supporters who see it as necessary for election integrity and critics who worry about voter suppression. As the 2026 midterms approach, states must either adapt to these changes or prepare legal challenges.
This executive order represents one of the most comprehensive changes to federal election practices in recent history, potentially transforming how Americans vote for years to come.