Trump Signs Executive Order to Regulate Mail-In Voting
President Donald Trump has taken another step towards influencing electoral processes in the United States by signing an executive order aimed at instituting a federal citizenship list. This directive mandates the U.S. Postal Service to distribute mail-in ballots solely to individuals identified on this list.
Legal Challenges Ahead
This executive action marks the second election-related initiative since Trump’s return to office last year and is expected to face immediate legal challenges. While the U.S. Constitution grants states the authority to establish their own voting rules and oversee elections, Congress retains the power to enact certain regulations.
Trump’s Optimism Regarding the Order
During the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump expressed confidence in the order’s robust nature, asserting that it would withstand court scrutiny. He stated, “This is a big deal. I think this will help a lot in elections,” highlighting his desire for stronger voter ID and proof of citizenship requirements.
Implementation of the Citizenship List
The executive order mandates the Department of Homeland Security to compile a “state citizenship list” utilizing federal citizenship and naturalization records, Social Security data, and other federally maintained databases. These lists are intended to assist states in verifying voter rolls, ensuring that only individuals on the approved citizenship list receive ballots from the USPS. However, questions arise regarding how the Postal Service, historically underfunded, will manage the additional responsibilities tied to enforcing these election mail provisions.
Involvement of Key Figures
Notably, two prominent figures from the unsuccessful effort to overturn the 2020 election—Kurt Olsen and Heather Honey—played roles in the discussions surrounding this executive order. Olsen currently holds the position of White House director of election security and integrity, while Honey serves in a senior capacity at the Department of Homeland Security.
Anticipated Court Rulings
Election experts anticipate that the order will likely face constitutional challenges in the courts. David Becker, founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation and Research, remarked that it could be blocked swiftly, emphasizing that the authority to manage mail-in voting is clearly designated to the states. Becker noted that the president has not been granted legislative authority to dictate state-level election policies.
Trump’s Broader Vision for Elections
Trump continues to promote changes to the U.S. voting framework, persistently insisting that he won the controversial 2020 election. In a recent statement, he claimed, “I won three times. I won convincingly three times.” His administration has suggested various measures, including the nationalization of elections in certain jurisdictions, which has raised concerns among state election officials.
Previous Orders and Legislative Efforts
In his ongoing push for electoral reform, last March, Trump signed an executive order aimed at reducing funding to states that require proof of citizenship for voter registration or allow grace periods for mail-in ballots. Many provisions of this order faced court challenges. Moreover, Trump has been advocating for the SAVE America Act in Congress, which would set forth new citizenship and voter ID mandates. Although the bill cleared the House, it is currently stalled in the Senate, where it requires 60 votes to advance under existing rules.
