U.S. President Donald Trump wants to make deep changes to the electoral law in the U.S. He has instructed several federal agencies to take steps aimed at limiting mail-in voting and monitoring elections.
President Donald Trump seeks to toughen the rules for elections in the U.S. with a new decree. According to the decree, anyone wishing to register for federal elections must, in the future, prove U.S. citizenship through documentation. Additionally, mail-in ballots must reach authorities by election day. The U.S. has failed to “implement basic and necessary measures for elections,” states Trump’s executive order.
U.S. states are required to cooperate with federal authorities to exchange voter lists and pursue election-related crimes.
The U.S. President cannot directly force federal states to change their election laws. To implement his plans, Trump intends to apply financial pressure: specific federal funds will only be sent to states that agree to and enforce the decree.
Lawsuit from civil rights activists
After signing the bill, Trump announced that in the coming weeks, he would take further steps regarding U.S. electoral law. Trump’s decree is expected to be challenged in court by organizations dealing with electoral law. They argue that about nine percent of eligible American voters, approximately 21.3 million people, do not have proof of their citizenship.
Married women who have changed their last names may also have problems with registration, as their birth certificates list their maiden names. This became evident in the recent New Hampshire elections.
Trump has consistently criticized election manipulation, especially after his loss to Joe Biden in 2020. Trump has been particularly critical of mail-in voting, claiming without evidence that it is insecure and opens the door to fraud. / DW (A2 Television)
