On Tuesday, President Trump issued an executive order mandating proof of U.S. citizenship on election-related forms. This move is part of a vigorous initiative to identify and address voter fraud, which is acknowledged to be very rare yet frequently cited by Mr. Trump as a reason for his defeat in the 2020 election.
The executive order instructs the Election Assistance Commission to enforce a requirement for individuals to present government-issued proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. It also mandates that state or local officials document and verify this information. Additionally, the order seeks to ensure that states count ballots by Election Day.
Officials from the administration characterized this order as one of the most significant related to elections in American history. They cited the goal of removing undocumented immigrants from voter rolls as a key objective, reinforcing Mr. Trump’s persistent concerns regarding election integrity. He has mistakenly contended that illegal voting was a factor in his loss during the 2020 election and the popular vote during 2016.
The order asserted that existing rules preventing noncitizens from registering to vote were not being enforced “adequately” and implied that elections might be compromised by states that count ballots received after the designated Election Day.
This practice aligns with standard procedures in states that require mail-in ballots to be postmarked by Election Day. Nevertheless, even after his clear victory in November, Mr. Trump persisted in claiming that ballots were continuing to be counted.
The executive order indicates that federal funding may be withheld from states that fail to comply.
“Elections should be free, fair, and devoid of fraud, errors, or doubt, which is essential to upholding our constitutional Republic,” the order emphasized. “It is critical for American citizens that their votes are accurately counted and tabulated, and not diluted by illegal votes, to ensure that the rightful winner is determined.”
During the signing event, Mr. Trump—who continues to falsely assert he won the 2020 election—remarked that some people might not understand his grievances given his “landslide” victory last year.
“We will be taking further steps in the coming weeks, and we believe we can achieve fair elections,” Mr. Trump stated during the signing. “This country is suffering due to the election fraud and the poorly conducted elections, and we are determined to resolve this issue one way or another.”
