Donald Trump signs new executive order giving him more power than ever over US elections
President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order imposing strict new voting requirements that critics warn could disenfranchise millions of Americans.
The order mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration and requires all ballots to be received by Election Day, eliminating the current grace period for mail-in ballots in 18 states. States refusing to comply face potential cuts to federal funding.
The controversial measure builds on Trump’s long-debunked claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly targeting mail-in voting which studies show has negligible fraud rates.
An estimated 21 million eligible voters lack immediate access to citizenship documents, raising concerns the rules could disproportionately affect naturalized citizens, low-income voters, and married women whose legal names don’t match birth certificates.
The order directs federal agencies to share data with states to identify non-citizens on voter rolls and instructs the Justice Department to prioritize election crime prosecutions in uncooperative states. Legal challenges are expected as the Constitution grants states primary authority over election administration.
Voting rights organizations have condemned the move as voter suppression, with prominent election lawyer Marc Elias vowing immediate lawsuits.
The order comes amid Trump’s broader efforts to reshape election laws ahead of the 2024 vote, including recent threats to sanction lawyers who challenge government actions. Critics characterize these measures as authoritarian overreach that could further erode trust in democratic institutions.
