Proof of Citizenship
Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday, mandating that voters provide proof of U.S. citizenship to cast ballots and seeking to prevent states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The order also threatens to withhold federal funding from states that fail to comply with the new regulations.
Trump, who has consistently cast doubt on the integrity of the U.S. electoral system, reiterated his long-standing claims—despite a lack of evidence—that widespread voter fraud played a role in his 2020 election loss to Democratic President Joe Biden. He and his Republican allies have particularly pushed unsubstantiated claims of non-citizens voting in elections, a practice that is already illegal and has been shown to be exceedingly rare.
The Republican-controlled House of Representatives previously attempted to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, which sought to ban non-citizens from registering to vote in federal elections.
However, the bill did not make it through the then-Democratic-controlled Senate. Trump’s executive order now aims to implement similar measures without requiring congressional approval.
At the signing ceremony, Trump emphasized what he sees as the urgent need for election reform. “We’ve got to straighten out our elections,” he said. “This country is so sick because of the elections, the fake elections, and the bad elections. We’re going to straighten that out one way or another.”
Critics, however, have condemned the order as an attack on voting rights, arguing that it could disproportionately disenfranchise marginalized communities. Advocacy group Public Citizen called the move a “blatant attack on democracy and an authoritarian power grab.”
The group pointed out that approximately 146 million Americans do not have a passport, and research from the Brennan Center for Justice revealed that 9% of eligible voters—more than 21 million people—do not have proof of citizenship readily available.
Under the new directive, federal election-related funds will be contingent on states adhering to the integrity measures outlined in federal law. This includes a requirement for all states to use a national mail voter registration form that will now demand proof of citizenship. Additionally, for the first time, voters will be asked to confirm their citizenship status on the federal voting form.
The order also takes aim at mail-in voting, calling for ballots to be both cast and received by Election Day. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states, along with Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, D.C., currently count ballots postmarked on or before Election Day, regardless of when they arrive.
The order directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to work with states to verify the citizenship or immigration status of individuals who register to vote.
Furthermore, Trump’s order empowers DHS and an administrator from the Elon Musk-run Department of Government Efficiency to conduct a review of state voter registration lists. If necessary, they can issue subpoenas to ensure compliance with federal requirements.
Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee (RNC) announced that it has requested public records from 48 states and Washington, D.C., to examine how they maintain voter registration lists.
RNC Chairman Michael Whatley stated, “Voters have a right to know that their states are properly maintaining voter rolls and quickly acting to clean voter registration lists by removing ineligible voters.”
The executive order is expected to face significant legal challenges from voting rights groups and Democratic lawmakers, who argue that it undermines access to the ballot and imposes unnecessary barriers on eligible voters. With the 2024 election approaching, the order has further intensified the ongoing debate over election integrity and voter access in the United States.
