Federal voting process faces major shift under Trump’s new executive order
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In a move that has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, former President Donald Trump has wielded his executive power to enact an order that could redefine the future of American elections.
With the stroke of a pen, Trump has added a new requirement for voting in federal elections, a directive that has sparked a firestorm of debate and is poised to ignite a legal battleground.
On a Tuesday that will be etched in the annals of American political history, Trump signed an executive order that seeks to impose stringent federal voter identification requirements.
The goal is to ensure that only US citizens cast their votes in federal elections. The acton follows Trump’s continuous claims of “voter fraud” to argue that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite his win in the 2024 election.
Furthermore, non-US citizens are already not allowed to vote in the federal elections. However, under the new order, federal voter registration forms will now demand applicants to present either a US passport, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued card, or a “valid Federal or state government-issued photo identification.”
Trump’s executive order aims to significantly reallocate election oversight power to the executive branch—marking a sharp departure from the current structure, where counties manage federal elections under the supervision of state secretaries of state, with the federal government's role limited to funding and technical support.
“This country is so sick because of the fake elections and the bad elections, and we’re going to straighten it out one way or the other,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “It’s an honor to sign this one.”
Trump also directed Pam Bondi to establish "information-sharing agreements" with state election officials in order to identify and pursue individuals who have committed election fraud, registered to vote while ineligible, submitted false voter registration details, or engaged in threats or intimidation against election workers or voters.
The executive order also revises federal voting system standards by mandating that all ballots must generate a voter-verifiable paper trail to help prevent fraud or errors.
“This executive order represents the most far-reaching action ever taken by a president to secure our elections,” White House staff secretary Will Scharf told Trump as he presented the order for his signature.
Currently, 36 states require voters to show some form of identification at polling places, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Meanwhile, 14 states—primarily Democrat-led—and the District of Columbia do not have voter ID requirements.
Voting rights advocates are raising alarms over the potential consequences of the new executive order, warning that voter ID laws—frequently backed by Republicans—can create significant hurdles for eligible voters, particularly seniors, minorities, low-income individuals, and students.
UCLA law professor Rick Hasen, writing on the Election Law Blog, cautioned that “This executive order, if it could survive the inevitable judicial challenge, would severely shift power over federal elections into the hands of the Presidency.”
He argued the measure would "prevent only a tiny amount of noncitizen voter registration but stop millions of eligible voters" who lack easy access to documents like passports from registering.
Read next? Will the elections be at risk? Here’s how Trump’s latest move could impact cybersecurity funding
Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, criticized the move as a “blatant overreach that threatens to disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters.”
She added, “This measure will no doubt disproportionately impact historically excluded communities, including voters of color, naturalized citizens, people with disabilities, and the elderly, by pushing unnecessary barriers to the fundamental right to vote.”
Source: New York Post / Youtube.
The executive order also repeals President Joe Biden’s 2021 directive, “Promoting Access to Voting,” which had instructed federal agencies to broaden voter registration opportunities and increase public awareness of the electoral process.
Will Scharf, White House staff secretary, defended the repeal, claiming that the Biden-era order “essentially weaponized government to corrupt and pollute our election process.”
Also read: How mail-in ballots could be destroying the integrity of our elections
How do you feel about the new executive order? Do you have concerns about your ability to meet the new identification requirements? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Please remember to remain respectful.
With the stroke of a pen, Trump has added a new requirement for voting in federal elections, a directive that has sparked a firestorm of debate and is poised to ignite a legal battleground.
On a Tuesday that will be etched in the annals of American political history, Trump signed an executive order that seeks to impose stringent federal voter identification requirements.
The goal is to ensure that only US citizens cast their votes in federal elections. The acton follows Trump’s continuous claims of “voter fraud” to argue that the 2020 election was stolen from him, despite his win in the 2024 election.
Furthermore, non-US citizens are already not allowed to vote in the federal elections. However, under the new order, federal voter registration forms will now demand applicants to present either a US passport, a REAL ID-compliant driver's license or state-issued card, or a “valid Federal or state government-issued photo identification.”
Trump’s executive order aims to significantly reallocate election oversight power to the executive branch—marking a sharp departure from the current structure, where counties manage federal elections under the supervision of state secretaries of state, with the federal government's role limited to funding and technical support.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order which establishes new federal voter identification requirements for voting in federal elections in the United States. Image source: Yahoo! Finance / Youtube.
“This country is so sick because of the fake elections and the bad elections, and we’re going to straighten it out one way or the other,” Trump said during the signing ceremony. “It’s an honor to sign this one.”
Trump also directed Pam Bondi to establish "information-sharing agreements" with state election officials in order to identify and pursue individuals who have committed election fraud, registered to vote while ineligible, submitted false voter registration details, or engaged in threats or intimidation against election workers or voters.
The executive order also revises federal voting system standards by mandating that all ballots must generate a voter-verifiable paper trail to help prevent fraud or errors.
“This executive order represents the most far-reaching action ever taken by a president to secure our elections,” White House staff secretary Will Scharf told Trump as he presented the order for his signature.
Currently, 36 states require voters to show some form of identification at polling places, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. Meanwhile, 14 states—primarily Democrat-led—and the District of Columbia do not have voter ID requirements.
Voting rights advocates are raising alarms over the potential consequences of the new executive order, warning that voter ID laws—frequently backed by Republicans—can create significant hurdles for eligible voters, particularly seniors, minorities, low-income individuals, and students.
UCLA law professor Rick Hasen, writing on the Election Law Blog, cautioned that “This executive order, if it could survive the inevitable judicial challenge, would severely shift power over federal elections into the hands of the Presidency.”
He argued the measure would "prevent only a tiny amount of noncitizen voter registration but stop millions of eligible voters" who lack easy access to documents like passports from registering.
Read next? Will the elections be at risk? Here’s how Trump’s latest move could impact cybersecurity funding
Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, criticized the move as a “blatant overreach that threatens to disenfranchise tens of millions of eligible voters.”
She added, “This measure will no doubt disproportionately impact historically excluded communities, including voters of color, naturalized citizens, people with disabilities, and the elderly, by pushing unnecessary barriers to the fundamental right to vote.”
Source: New York Post / Youtube.
The executive order also repeals President Joe Biden’s 2021 directive, “Promoting Access to Voting,” which had instructed federal agencies to broaden voter registration opportunities and increase public awareness of the electoral process.
Will Scharf, White House staff secretary, defended the repeal, claiming that the Biden-era order “essentially weaponized government to corrupt and pollute our election process.”
Also read: How mail-in ballots could be destroying the integrity of our elections
How do you feel about the new executive order? Do you have concerns about your ability to meet the new identification requirements? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below! Please remember to remain respectful.
