Trump signs executive order that will change future elections

President Donald Trump has signed a controversial new executive order that could drastically impact future US elections.

Since his inauguration in January, the 78-year-old Republican has issued nearly 100 executive orders, according to the Federal Register. These have ranged from renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America to dismantling the Department of Education. His latest order, however, is sparking heated debate, with some experts warning it could disenfranchise millions of voters.

On Tuesday, Trump signed Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections, a sweeping order that requires voters to provide proof of US citizenship when registering for federal elections. The administration argues that the move is necessary to ensure elections remain “free, fair, and honest,” free from fraud or suspicion.

“The United States fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing,” the order states, citing biometric voter identification systems used in India and Brazil.

New voter ID requirements

The Associated Press reports that, under the new order, eligible voters must present documentary proof of citizenship, such as:

A US passport
A REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or state ID
A military identification card
Other government-issued photo identification meeting federal standards

Without one of these documents, US citizens would be barred from voting in future federal elections.

The order also requires state election officials to work with federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department, to share voter registration data. Officials say this will help identify and remove noncitizens from voter rolls.

Mail-in voting changes and legal challenges

The order further mandates that all mail-in ballots must be received by election day. Currently, 18 states and Puerto Rico allow ballots postmarked by election day to be counted if received later, but this would no longer be allowed.

Legal experts predict that Trump’s order will face significant court challenges. UCLA law professor Rick Hasen called it an “executive power grab” that could shift election oversight from states to the federal government. Meanwhile, Wendy Weiser from the Brennan Center for Justice stated that the president “cannot override a statute passed by Congress” regarding voter registration requirements.

Additionally, the order threatens to withhold federal funding from states that fail to comply with the new rules—a move critics say could reshape how elections are conducted across the country.

During the signing, Trump told reporters: “Election fraud. You’ve heard the term. We’re going to end it, hopefully. At least this will go a long way toward ending it.”

However, opponents argue that the order will make it harder for many Americans to vote. Jena Griswold, Colorado’s Democratic secretary of state, called it “unlawful” and an effort to suppress voter turnout.

With past attempts to pass voter ID laws failing in Congress, legal battles over Trump’s latest move are almost certain. Whether the order will withstand judicial scrutiny remains to be seen, but one thing is clear—it has reignited fierce debate over voting rights in America.