Trump’s Executive Order Aims To Change Up Voting Standards

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration, threatening to pull funding from states that don’t comply.

Key Takeaways

Trump’s executive order aims to cut federal grants to states that don’t implement stricter voter registration standards, including proof of citizenship requirements.
The order mandates that all ballots must be received by Election Day nationwide, potentially changing practices in several states.
States are directed to collaborate with federal agencies on voter list maintenance and election crime prosecution.
The order faces likely legal challenges over presidential authority in election matters traditionally managed by states.

New Requirements for Voter Registration

The executive order signed by President Trump imposes significant changes to voter registration processes across the country. Central to the order is the requirement for documentary proof of citizenship to register for federal elections. The executive order indicates that states failing to implement these stricter standards should lose federal funding. The order also requires that all ballots be received by Election Day nationwide, eliminating extended ballot collection periods currently in place in some states. Additionally, it directs the Election Assistance Commission to amend voting system guidelines, specifically targeting the use of barcodes and QR codes in vote counting systems.

The order specifically addresses concerns about foreign nationals contributing to US elections, targeting potential influence from non-citizens in the electoral process. It instructs states to collaborate with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes.

During the signing ceremony, Trump spoke about the order. “Perhaps some people think I shouldn’t be complaining, because we won in a landslide, but we’ve got to straighten out our election,” Trump stated, reiterating his long-standing concerns about election processes in the United States.

Trump signs executive order to toughen voter registration standards https://t.co/Cm0bgDaSCf pic.twitter.com/1Fsjf3HFmB

— American Military News (@AmerMilNews) March 27, 2025

Political Divide

The executive order has predictably deepened political divisions over election administration. Conservatives have generally supported the measures as necessary safeguards for election integrity. Democrats and voting rights advocates, however, have expressed concern that the requirements could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters who lack ready access to proof of citizenship documentation.

Critics also argue that the constitutionality of the order is in question, with David Becker, the CEO of the Center for Election Innovation & Research, referring to it as a “federal takeover of the constitutional authority of local and state governments to run elections.”

Legal challenges to the order are already being prepared, with Democratic attorney Marc Elias among those threatening action. The outcome of Trump’s order and any potential legal challenges could have a significant impact on the future of voting in the US.