The US president announced that the proposed executive order would enforce voter identification, limit mail-in ballots, and permit only paper ballots.
US President Donald Trump has committed to enacting an executive order aimed at significantly curbing mail-in voting and requiring identification for all ballots cast. Trump has frequently stated his intention to reform the US electoral system, claiming it is excessively vulnerable to fraudulent activities.
The US President conveyed this announcement via a Truth Social post on Saturday, indicating that the measure would largely dismantle the vote-by-mail system, permitting only limited exceptions.
He stated, “Voter ID must be part of every single vote. No exceptions! I will be doing an executive order to that end!!!” He further added, “Also, no mail-in voting, except for those are very ill, and the far away military. Use paper ballots only!!!”
Previously in the month, Trump disclosed that the executive order pertaining to the voting system was “being written … by the best lawyers in the country.”
The US President has consistently expressed disapproval of the nation’s electoral system and has frequently committed to reforming it. Trump has consistently attributed his 2020 defeat by Joe Biden to extensive fraud, citing allegations such as widespread voting by non-citizens and inconsistencies in mail-in ballots, among other grievances. He has also expressed doubts about voting machines, advocating instead for paper ballots and manual tabulation.
Conversely, voting rights organizations have voiced criticism of Trump’s proposals to reform the system. Compulsory identification has emerged as one of the most disputed elements. These groups contend that a significant portion of eligible American voters do not possess the necessary identification documents. A 2023 report compiled by the Brennan Center for Justice and allied organizations indicates that approximately 21.3 million individuals, representing about 9% of US citizens of voting age, lack easily accessible proof of citizenship.
Furthermore, it remains uncertain if the US President possesses the actual authority to implement these changes, considering that federal elections are managed at the state level. Critics of Trump have accused him of exceeding his powers, asserting that the president lacks explicit constitutional authority to modify the electoral system.