President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order that will require all individuals registering to vote in federal elections to present documentation proving they are American citizens. The move is part of a broader push to ensure election integrity and tighten rules surrounding ballot eligibility.
Under the order, voter registration forms will now require submission of government-issued documents, such as a passport or REAL ID, that verify the registrant’s U.S. citizenship status. Trump called the order one of the most important he’s ever signed.
🚨 POTUS signs an executive order on election integrity that includes the following provisions:
– Requires documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on its voter registration forms.
– Conditions federal election-related funds on states complying with the integrity… pic.twitter.com/6A5zVdOAYn— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 25, 2025
States that want to receive federal election funding will now need to meet the order’s requirements, which also include ensuring that all ballots are processed by the end of Election Day. The directive points to previous failures to block noncitizens from registering or voting as justification for these new restrictions.
BREAKING: Voting rights advocates say Trump's executive order requiring proof of citizenship 'could block millions from voting'
Isn't that the point? pic.twitter.com/vY2RlJHT7k
— TaraBull (@TaraBull808) March 26, 2025
The executive order also instructs the Department of Justice to coordinate with state election officials through data-sharing agreements. The purpose is to identify any violations of federal election law and remove ineligible names from the rolls.
FREE, FAIR, and HONEST Elections.
“This will go a long way towards ending it [election fraud]. There are other steps we will be taking…We’ve got to straighten out our elections.” – @POTUS
🇺🇸 Proof of citizenship
🇺🇸 Prevent foreign interference
🇺🇸 Prosecute election crimes pic.twitter.com/nlftxgHCi5— The White House (@WhiteHouse) March 25, 2025
While critics argue that the order could restrict voting access for some, supporters say it is a necessary response to concerns about election interference and weak oversight in past elections. The White House framed the move as a direct effort to restore public confidence in the voting process.
A similar effort, known as the SAVE Act, is currently being debated in Congress and would impose nationwide citizenship documentation requirements. Trump’s executive order brings the administration’s full backing to that legislative push.
Election experts say the new mandate is likely to trigger legal challenges, but the administration insists it is within federal authority to enforce citizenship requirements in national elections.
