On Tuesday, U.S. President Donald Trump issued an executive order imposing stricter controls on federal elections, including requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. This move comes as the Republican continues to claim the system is rigged against him.
The order has sparked swift condemnation from experts, who argue it is an overreach of presidential power that could disenfranchise millions of Americans. Civil rights groups have already vowed to challenge it in court.
Trump, who has never conceded his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden and continues to promote baseless claims of widespread voter fraud, particularly in absentee ballots, said, “We’ve got to straighten out our election… This country is so sick because of the election, the fake elections.”
Under the new rules, individuals registering to vote will need to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport. States that do not comply could face reductions in federal election funding. The order also empowers the attorney general to take action against states that include absentee ballots received after Election Day in their final vote tally.
Some states currently allow late-arriving absentee ballots if postmarked by Election Day. Richard Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, called the order “dangerous” and warned it could “disenfranchise millions of voters.” He also referred to it as an “executive power grab,” noting that election procedures are largely under state jurisdiction.
The Brennan Center for Justice denounced the order, saying it could block millions of citizens from voting and that presidents lack the authority to impose such measures. The ACLU also criticized the move, calling it an “extreme abuse of power” and promising legal action.
Voter fraud by non-citizens has been illegal in the U.S. for decades, with penalties including fines, imprisonment, and deportation.
AFP
