March 25, 2025 — Washington, D.C. President Donald Trump has signed an executive order requiring voters to present documentary proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register for federal elections.
The order, signed Tuesday, directs states to verify the citizenship status of all new voter registrants using official documents such as birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers.
It also mandates that all ballots be received by the close of polls on Election Day to be counted, eliminating the use of postmark-based deadlines in states that currently allow them.
Additionally, the order instructs federal agencies to assist states by providing access to citizenship data, prosecuting election-related offenses, and potentially withholding federal funds from states that fail to comply.
It further directs the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to prioritize paper-based voting systems in a push for greater transparency and security.
Historical Context and Rationale
The order marks a continuation of Trump’s longstanding focus on voter fraud, particularly his repeated—though widely disputed—claims that noncitizens have been casting ballots in U.S. elections.
These concerns have been central to Trump’s political messaging since his 2016 campaign.
During his first term, Trump attempted to add a citizenship question to the 2020 census and created a commission to investigate voter fraud, both of which were ultimately dismantled or blocked in court.
Earlier this year, he signed Executive Order 14160 to end birthright citizenship for children of undocumented immigrants, which was swiftly halted by legal challenges.
The current order builds on those efforts by targeting the voter registration process.
Supporters argue the order is a necessary safeguard to ensure only eligible American citizens participate in federal elections. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA), a longtime advocate for stricter voting laws, introduced the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act in 2024, proposing similar proof-of-citizenship requirements.
Criticism and Legal Challenges Ahead
Voting rights advocates argue the order seeks to solve a problem that virtually doesn’t exist.
Multiple studies—including from the nonpartisan Brennan Center for Justice—have found that noncitizen voting is extremely rare. A 2017 study identified only 30 suspected cases of noncitizen voting among 23.5 million ballots cast, a rate of 0.0001%.
Critics also warn that the order could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly those without immediate access to documents such as passports or birth certificates.
The Brennan Center estimates that roughly 9% of voting-age citizens may fall into this category, with low-income individuals, elderly voters, and natural-born citizens among the most affected.
Legal experts predict the order will face swift constitutional challenges. While federal elections fall under federal purview, the U.S. Constitution grants states primary authority over election administration.
The potential for withholding federal funds adds another layer of complexity that courts are expected to examine closely.
Setting the Stage for the 2026 Midterm Elections
As the 2026 midterm elections approach, Trump’s executive order has become a lightning rod in the broader debate over voting rights and election integrity.
With control of Congress at stake and voter turnout expected to play a decisive role, the executive order may influence both the accessibility of the ballot and the political messaging of candidates.
Legal battles, public response, and the degree of state-level resistance or compliance will all shape whether and how the order impacts the midterms.
Beyond 2026, the order could set a far-reaching precedent—testing the boundaries of federal authority over elections and redefining how the nation balances citizenship verification, access to the ballot, and democratic security.
