Now that Congress has left town without approving the Save America Act—a bill that requires voter ID and cracks down on non-citizens voting—President Trump has called for the cleanup of federal elections in an Executive Order.
In the order titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” Trump emphasized that “the right to vote in Federal elections is reserved exclusively for citizens of the United States under the Constitution and Federal law,” noting that existing statutes already prohibit non-citizens from voting and impose criminal penalties for violations.
The directive outlines a sweeping federal effort to verify voter eligibility by leveraging databases from the Social Security Administration and the Department of Homeland Security. According to the order, these records can be used to confirm identity and citizenship status, reinforcing what Trump described as the federal government’s duty to “maintain public confidence in election outcomes.”
A key provision calls for the creation of a “State Citizenship List,” compiled from federal records and shared with state election officials ahead of federal elections. The order states that the list will include individuals confirmed to be U.S. citizens over age 18, though it clarifies that inclusion does not automatically register someone to vote.
Trump also directed the Department of Justice to prioritize investigations and prosecutions related to election fraud, including cases where ballots are issued to ineligible individuals. The order states that officials and entities involved in distributing ballots unlawfully could face federal charges.
Mail-in voting procedures are another focus. The order mandates that the U.S. Postal Service develop new rules requiring official election mail markings and unique barcode identifiers on ballot envelopes. Trump wrote that such measures would provide “a reliable, auditable mechanism to enforce Federal law… reducing the risk of fraud and protecting the integrity of Federal elections.”
The order further warns that federal funding could be withheld from states that fail to comply with applicable election laws. It also requires the preservation of election-related records for five years. The administration framed the action as necessary to enforce existing laws and strengthen election security nationwide.