Can Trump’s sweeping executive order reshape U.S. elections?
Washington: President Donald Trump has issued a broad executive order aimed at overhauling the nation’s election procedures, a move that could fundamentally alter the voting landscape despite likely legal challenges.
The order mandates that anyone registering for federal elections must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate, by updating the federal voter registration form. It also directs states to submit their voter registration lists and maintenance records to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency for review, while requiring federal agencies to share data with states to help pinpoint non-citizens on voter rolls. Additionally, the order warns that states failing to assist federal law enforcement in prosecuting election-related crimes could face a loss of federal grants. Although non-citizen voting a felony in federal elections carrying penalties including imprisonment and deportation is extremely rare, Trump argued in 2024 that it could significantly influence the presidential race, a point that has become a key issue among conservatives.
Another central provision of the order stipulates that all mail and absentee ballots must be both cast and received by Election Day to be counted, with federal funding contingent on states adhering to this deadline. Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico allow ballots received after Election Day—as long as they are postmarked by that day to be counted. This change could have a major impact in states like California, known for its extended vote-counting process that sometimes delays final results by weeks, potentially affecting voter confidence.
The executive order further instructs the Election Assistance Commission to update its guidelines for voting systems to enhance election integrity. This includes a prohibition on relying on barcodes or QR codes during vote counting, with Trump directing the commission to review and, if necessary, re-certify voting systems under the new standards within six months. The implications of this directive remain uncertain, particularly for states such as Georgia, where QR codes play a role in processing votes from touchscreen voting machines.
Additionally, the order restricts contributions from foreign nationals in U.S. elections a measure targeting concerns that have grown over the years, including efforts by some Republicans to counteract the influence of Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss. Wyss, a Wyoming resident, has donated hundreds of millions to 501(c) nonprofit organizations that support liberal causes. Notably, the Sixteen Thirty Fund contributed a combined USD 3.9 million to secure abortion protections in the Ohio Constitution and helped block a proposed amendment by Ohio Republicans that would have complicated the passage of future constitutional amendments. Similar legislative efforts have been seen before, with Ohio linking then-president Joe Biden’s ballot appearance to a ban on foreign contributions, and Kansas recently passing a nearly identical measure after testimony from Ohio’s Secretary of State.
(With PTI Inputs)