US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on 25 March that will require Americans to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote.
The executive order makes it incumbent on local authorities registering voters to verify the authenticity of the documents submitted. The order also includes a requirement to complete the counting of mail-in ballots on Election Day.
According to the White House, the main purpose of the decree is to prevent non-citizens and people who are in the US illegally from participating in elections. Previously, Donald Trump has repeatedly lamented the country’s flawed voting system and unsubstantiated claims that he lost the 2020 presidential election, in part because of ballots cast by those who were ineligible to vote.
“Electoral fraud – you’ve heard that phrase. I hope we put an end to it,” President Trump said during the signing of the executive order.
Lawyers quoted by US media say the executive order is likely to be challenged in the courts because the president is potentially overstepping his authority by requiring the executive-independent Federal Election Commission to change the terms of the election. Under current rules, a prospective voter need only declare his or her citizenship on a voter registration application. There is a penalty for providing false information. Numerous audits of illegal voting records have found few violations, according to officials.
The Donald Trump administration has threatened states that refuse to comply with the executive order with the denial of federal funding.