Washington, Mar 26: Former U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday seeking broad changes to the country’s election system, including requiring proof of citizenship for voting, limiting mail ballots to those received by Election Day, and prohibiting foreign nationals from donating in certain elections.
Citing India and other countries, Trump said the United States fails to enforce “basic and necessary election protections” used by modern nations.
“India and Brazil are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship,” Trump said.
He also noted that “Germany and Canada require paper ballots when tabulating votes, while the United States has a patchwork of methods that often lack basic chain-of-custody protections.”
Trump has repeatedly criticised mail-in voting in the United States. He referred to Denmark and Sweden as examples, saying they “sensibly” restrict mail voting to those unable to vote in person and do not count ballots received after Election Day, regardless of the postmark date.
“Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic,” Trump said. “The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election.”
The executive order calls for changes to voter registration rules, including amendments to the federal voter registration form to require proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport or birth certificate.
It also directs states to provide voter lists and records to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency for review. Federal agencies will be required to share data to help states identify noncitizens on voter rolls. The order states that if states refuse to collaborate in prosecuting election crimes, they could lose federal grant funding.
The order mandates that votes must be “cast and received” by Election Day, making federal funding conditional on states complying with this deadline. Currently, 18 U.S. states, along with Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands, allow the counting of mail-in ballots received after Election Day if they are postmarked before polls close.
It also instructs the Election Assistance Commission to revise its guidelines for voting systems, stating that ballots should not rely on barcodes or QR codes for vote counting. The commission has six months to review and, if necessary, re-certify voting systems based on the new standards.
Trump’s order further bars foreign nationals from contributing to U.S. elections. “Foreign nationals and non-governmental organizations have taken advantage of loopholes in the law’s interpretation, spending millions of dollars through conduit contributions and ballot-initiative-related expenditures,” he said.
Trump, who lost the 2020 presidential election to Democrat Joe Biden, has repeatedly questioned certain voting methods. His return to the White House in January followed a victory over Democrat nominee Kamala Harris.
