Trump’s New Executive Order Seeks Major Changes to Federal Elections

the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday that aims to significantly change how federal elections are conducted. This move comes after years of proven and  unproven claims from Trump about voter fraud, particularly involving mail-in ballots and noncitizens voting.

Key Takeaways from the Executive Order

The executive order focuses on two major changes:

1. Mandatory Proof of Citizenship for Voter Registration

   • States must now require individuals to present documented proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote.

   • Acceptable documents may include a passport, Real ID, or other state- or federally-issued identification.

2. Restrictions on Mail-in and Absentee Ballots

   • The order instructs the Attorney General to take action against states that count mail-in or absentee ballots received after Election Day.

   • This challenges many states’ existing policies that allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted.

Additionally, the order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply with these new measures.

Legal and Political Backlash

The executive order was met with immediate skepticism from legal experts. Richard Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, warned that if the order withstands expected legal challenges, it would give unprecedented power over elections to the presidency.

Critics argue that the new regulations amount to voter suppression, as they impose additional hurdles for eligible voters. Many also point out that noncitizen voting is already illegal and extremely rare, with severe penalties for violations.

A Long-Standing Narrative on Voter Fraud

For years, Trump has pushed claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly regarding mail-in ballots. He has continued to allege that the 2020 election was “rigged” due to expanded mail-in voting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

His GOP allies have also seized on the issue of noncitizen voting, despite the fact that existing laws already prohibit it and documented cases are “extremely rare”.

What Happens Next?

This executive order is almost certain to face legal battles in the coming months. Whether or not it survives these challenges, the debate over voting rights, election security, and access to the ballot box is far from over.

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