Trump Orders Major Overhaul of US Elections: What Are The Mandates

Washington: US President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order to tighten election rules. The order, titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” seeks to overhaul the US electoral system, introducing strict new measures such as mandatory documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and a ban on counting ballots received after Election Day.  

While signing the order at the White House on Tuesday, Trump said, “Election fraud. You’ve heard the term. We’re going to end it, hopefully. At least this will go a long way toward ending it.”

This move has already triggered fierce debate, with Trump’s supporters hailing it as a necessary step to prevent election fraud, while critics argue that it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters. 

What Are the Mandates?

The executive order lays down strict guidelines for voter verification and ballot processing:  

• Documentary proof of citizenship is mandatory for voter registration in federal elections. 
• Ballots must be received by Election Day—no late ballots will be counted, even if postmarked before the deadline.  
• States must share voter lists with federal agencies to ensure no duplicate or fraudulent registrations.  
• Election crimes to be prosecuted at both state and federal levels.  
• States that fail to comply with these rules risk losing federal funding.  

Trump has taken a direct aim at states that allow ballots to be counted after Election Day. Currently, 18 states permit counting late-arriving postal ballots if they were mailed before voting closed. The new order effectively nullifies this provision.  

Crackdown on States That Do Not Comply

Trump also warns that states failing to implement these measures could face severe financial consequences. The federal government will withhold funds from states that do not enforce proof-of-citizenship requirements or continue accepting ballots after Election Day.  

The Republican National Committee (RNC) has also launched a massive effort to verify voter registration lists nationwide, aligning with Trump’s long-standing claims that the current system is flawed.  
 

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Trump defended his decision by citing examples India and other countries like, Brazil, Denmark, and Sweden, where voter identification is stricter. He specifically praised India’s biometric voter ID system, arguing that the US relies too much on self-attestation for citizenship verification.  

“In India and Brazil, they are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the US just takes people’s word for it,” Trump said while signing the order.  

India’s Aadhaar-based voter verification system has often been highlighted in global discussions on election security. The  US president seems keen to push for a similar model, despite legal and logistical challenges in implementing such a system in the US