In a controversial move that has ignited fierce debate, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. The decision, which critics call an overreach of presidential power, could potentially block millions of Americans from casting their ballots.
The order is the latest in Trump’s ongoing campaign against what he claims is a rigged election system—despite winning reelection last November. He has continuously pushed baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly in absentee voting, which has become a widely used method across the country.
“We’ve Got to Straighten Out Our Elections”
Speaking at the White House as he signed the order, Trump justified the move as necessary to restore faith in the electoral process.
“Perhaps some people think I shouldn’t be complaining because we won in a landslide,” Trump said. “But we’ve got to straighten out our election. This country is so sick because of the election, the fake elections. And we’re going to straighten it out, one way or the other.”
Under the new directive, voters must provide proof of citizenship—such as a passport—when registering to vote in their state. Any state failing to comply could face cuts to federal election funding.
Additionally, the order gives the Attorney General authority to take legal action against states that count absentee or mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day, even if they were postmarked before polls closed—a move that could have major implications for how elections are conducted.
Legal Experts and Civil Rights Groups Push Back
Voting rights advocates and legal experts swiftly condemned the order.
Richard Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, called it a “dangerous” overreach of executive power that could disenfranchise millions of voters.
“The president does not have the authority to impose these requirements,” Hasen wrote on his Election Law blog. “Federal elections are largely controlled by the states, with Congress setting the rules—not the president.”
The Brennan Center for Justice, a nonprofit focused on democracy and voting rights, warned that the order could prevent tens of millions of Americans from voting.
“Presidents have no authority to do this,” the organization posted on X, formerly Twitter.
The ACLU also blasted the order as “an extreme abuse of power” and vowed to challenge it in court. “We’ll see him in court,” the group declared.
Political and Legal Battles Ahead
For decades, U.S. law has already made it a crime for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, carrying penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation. Critics argue that Trump’s order is a solution in search of a problem, designed to make it harder for eligible voters—especially marginalized groups—to exercise their rights.
With lawsuits already looming and states expected to resist implementation, Trump’s latest move is set to become a major flashpoint in the battle over voting rights in America.
