Wed Mar 26 02:08:12 UTC 2025: ## Trump Issues Sweeping Executive Order Overhauling US Elections

**New York, March 26, 2025** – President Donald Trump signed a controversial executive order on Tuesday, March 25, 2025, dramatically altering US election procedures. The order mandates documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, requires all ballots to be received by Election Day, and threatens to withhold federal funding from non-compliant states.

The move, immediately condemned by Democrats and voting rights groups, is widely expected to face legal challenges. Critics argue it constitutes an overreach of federal authority into state-level election administration and risks disenfranchising millions of eligible voters. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that 21.3 million US citizens lack readily available proof of citizenship.

The executive order cites a failure to enforce “basic and necessary election protections” and directs federal agencies to share voter data to identify non-citizens. It also prioritizes prosecution of election crimes in non-cooperative states. The order’s demand for ballots to be received by Election Day affects 18 states and Puerto Rico, which currently allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted even if received later.

While Republicans have framed the order as necessary to restore public confidence in elections, Democrats denounce it as “unlawful,” “immoral,” and “illegal.” Several Democratic representatives and lawyers have vowed to challenge the order in court.

The order also targets voting systems, calling on the Election Assistance Commission to prohibit barcodes or QR codes on ballots, potentially impacting several states using such systems. Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, however, issued a statement praising the order.

The timing of the executive order is notable, coinciding with a Republican National Committee effort to investigate voter registration list maintenance across the country. President Trump, referencing claims of election fraud, suggested further election-related actions are forthcoming. The order effectively bypasses the long-anticipated Republican-sponsored SAVE Act, which aimed to achieve similar goals. The legality and impact of President Trump’s sweeping changes remain highly contested and will likely be decided in the courts.

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