By Joke Kujenya
UNITED STATES President Donald J. Trump has signed a sweeping executive order aimed at strengthening the country’s election security by enforcing stricter voter verification measures and preventing foreign interference.
Under the order, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must update voter registration forms to require documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship.
Federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Department of State, are also directed to provide states with access to federal databases for voter eligibility verification.
The Attorney-General has further been tasked with prioritizing prosecutions related to non-citizen voting and election fraud, working in coordination with state attorneys general.
Also, federal election-related funding will be contingent upon states complying with these integrity measures, particularly the requirement for proof of citizenship in national mail voter registration forms.
President Trump said the executive order also mandates updates to the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0, ensuring all voting equipment meets modern security standards.
He adds that it requires the use of voter-verifiable paper ballots and prohibits ballots that contain barcodes or QR codes that obscure vote verification.
Additionally, the Attorney General will establish information-sharing agreements with state election officials to detect and prosecute election fraud.
States that fail to comply with federal election integrity laws may face stricter enforcement measures and potential loss of federal election funding, the Order notes.
Furthermore, the order explicitly prohibits non-citizens from participating in election administration and requires full enforcement of voter list maintenance rules under the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act.
It also reinforces existing federal deadlines by instructing the Attorney General to take action against states that count ballots received after Election Day in federal elections.
President Trump emphasized that the U.S. lags behind other nations in election security.
He asserted that countries such as India and Brazil have linked voter identification to biometric databases, while Germany and Canada rely on paper ballots counted publicly by local officials, minimizing disputes and ensuring transparency.
Also, Denmark and Sweden enforce strict mail-in voting regulations, limiting absentee ballots to those unable to vote in person and rejecting late-arriving ballots—contrasting sharply with many U.S. states that continue counting ballots after Election Day.
He said the executive order aims to align U.S. election standards with these international practices by addressing concerns over self-attestation in voter registration, widespread mail-in voting, and foreign influence. adding that it also directs federal agencies to review and reverse Biden’s Executive Order 14019, which expanded federal agency involvement in voter outreach efforts.
On his being commitment to election integrity, President Trump reaffirmed affirmed that his intent is to restore public trust in the electoral process, stating: “We’re going to fix our elections so that our elections are going to be honorable and honest, and people leave knowing their vote is counted. We will secure our elections, and they will be secure once and for all.”
He adds that this executive action represents a major step in his administration’s ongoing efforts to safeguard U.S. elections.
All federal agencies are now tasked with implementing these measures to ensure transparency, accountability, and the integrity of the American electoral system, he stated.
