March 26, 2025 — Washington, D.C. — In a move hailed by supporters as a win for election integrity and slammed by critics as voter suppression, President Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order on Tuesday mandating that voters provide government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.
The order also requires that all ballots be reviewed by Election Day, aiming to prevent late ballot counting. In addition, the directive ties federal election-related funding to state compliance with these newly established standards.
Key Provisions of the Executive Order
President Trump’s new directive includes several measures intended to tighten election security and crack down on potential fraud:
- Government-issued proof of citizenship must be included when submitting federal voter registration forms.
- The Election Assistance Commission is instructed to revise the federal voter registration form accordingly.
- The Attorney General is directed to create information-sharing agreements with state election officials to detect and prevent voter fraud.
- Federal funds for elections will be conditional on state-level enforcement of these rules.
- Mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted.
“There are other steps we’ll be taking in the coming weeks. We think we’ll be able to end up getting fair elections,” Trump said before signing the order. He added, “It’s an honor to sign this one. I sign all of them, but to sign this one is a great honor.”
Proof of Citizenship Requirements
Acceptable forms of documentation under this order include:
- U.S. passport
- REAL ID compliant state identification
- Military ID or federally issued documents that verify citizenship
The order stresses that, "free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic.”
Controversy and Legal Pushback
Opposition groups swiftly denounced the move. The Brennan Center for Justice at NYU issued a statement saying, “This executive order would block tens of millions of American citizens from voting. Presidents have no authority to do this.”
The order has been compared to the Republican-backed SAVE Act (Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act), currently under debate in Congress, which similarly seeks to require proof of citizenship when registering to vote. Most Democrats have voiced strong opposition, calling it a tool for voter suppression.
Election Integrity or Disenfranchisement?
Supporters of the order argue it is a necessary step to protect the integrity of federal elections. They highlight instances of voter rolls containing non-citizens, arguing that more rigorous verification is long overdue.
However, civil rights advocates counter that the measure could disenfranchise natural-born citizens who lack easy access to the required documents—especially elderly voters, low-income communities, and marginalized groups.
Plans for the “External Revenue Service”
In a related announcement, the Trump administration signaled plans to create the External Revenue Service (ERS)—a new agency aimed at replacing the IRS by collecting tariffs and redirecting tax operations. Though still in its planning stages, the proposal is expected to provoke intense debate in Washington.
Conclusion
President Trump’s order is already being celebrated by conservatives as a landmark in restoring trust in elections. However, legal challenges are expected, as critics argue the president lacks authority to impose such sweeping changes unilaterally.
As the debate over voter ID laws and citizenship verification continues, this executive order marks a major moment in the ongoing battle over election reform in the United States.
