In a major move aimed at reshaping how elections are conducted across the United States, President Donald J. Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive order titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections.”
The wide-ranging order seeks to tighten voter registration protocols, eliminate mail-in ballots received after Election Day, and block foreign nationals from participating in U.S. elections.
“Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic,” the order states, warning that current practices in many states fall short of global standards.
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The executive order mandates strict enforcement of federal election laws, citing repeated failures by states and federal agencies to uphold requirements designed to prevent non-citizen voting, foreign interference, and ballot irregularities. Among the major initiatives:
- Proof of Citizenship: All applicants using the national mail voter registration form must now provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or REAL ID-compliant identification. State officials will be required to record and verify those documents.
- Ballot Deadlines Enforced: The order directs the Department of Justice to take legal action against any state that counts ballots received after Election Day, citing federal statutes that require ballots to be cast and received on that day.
- Crackdown on Foreign Nationals: Federal agencies must now share immigration and citizenship data with state election officials to identify and remove ineligible voters. The DOJ is also directed to prioritize prosecution of non-citizens who register or vote in U.S. elections.
- Stripping Federal Funds: The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is instructed to withhold funding from states that fail to comply with voter ID, registration list maintenance, or voting system security standards.
- Voting System Overhaul: The EAC is ordered to update its Voluntary Voting System Guidelines, with new requirements to eliminate the use of barcode-based ballots, and ensure all systems provide a voter-verifiable paper record.
- Executive Order 14019 Revoked: Trump’s order also formally ends implementation of President Biden’s Executive Order 14019, which expanded federal agency involvement in voter outreach. Agencies must report compliance within 90 days.
Trump’s order repeatedly highlights concerns about foreign nationals influencing elections—either through unlawful voting, ballot initiatives, or foreign-funded political activity. It also directs agencies like the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Department of Defense (DOD) to audit voting systems and improve security against foreign cyber threats and unauthorized access.
“Elections must be honest and worthy of the public trust,” the order states, calling for uniform ballot deadlines and voter eligibility standards that mirror policies in countries like Germany, India, Brazil, and Sweden.
The executive order is likely to spark intense political and legal battles, especially in states where voting laws differ sharply from the new federal guidelines. Civil rights groups have long opposed similar requirements, arguing they could suppress voter turnout among minorities, the elderly, and low-income citizens.
Still, Trump framed the move as essential to restoring confidence in the electoral system.
“We must stop foreign interference, stop non-citizen voting, and end the chaos of late-arriving ballots,” Trump said in a statement following the order’s release. “We are returning to common sense and common decency in our elections.”
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The Election Assistance Commission, Department of Justice, DHS, and other federal agencies now have 30 to 180 days to implement various parts of the order, including updating voting systems, sharing citizenship data with states, and reviewing existing voter registration databases for ineligible entries.
With the 2026 midterm elections on the horizon, the executive order is set to become a defining issue in state and federal politics, especially as states weigh compliance with new federal standards—or prepare to challenge them in court.
Stay with us for continuing coverage as implementation unfolds and reactions pour in from across the political spectrum.
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