President Donald J. Trump issued an executive order on March 31 to enhance citizenship verification and election integrity in federal elections. The order outlines new procedures for confirming voter eligibility, the handling of mail-in ballots, and enforcement actions related to election law violations.
The directive aims to ensure that only citizens are eligible to vote in federal elections and that public confidence in election outcomes is maintained. It calls for increased cooperation among federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Social Security Administration (SSA), and United States Postal Service (USPS) to verify citizenship status and manage voting processes.
According to the order, the Secretary of Homeland Security, working with SSA officials, must compile a list of confirmed U.S. citizens over age 18 residing in each state before every federal election. This "State Citizenship List" will be shared with state election officials at least 60 days prior to regularly scheduled elections or promptly upon request for special elections. Individuals can access and update their records as needed, but inclusion on this list does not automatically register someone to vote; state laws still govern registration requirements.
The Attorney General is directed to prioritize investigations and prosecutions involving the issuance or distribution of ballots to individuals not eligible under federal law. The USPS is instructed within 60 days from the date of this order to propose rules ensuring all outbound ballot mail bears unique identifiers such as barcodes, is marked as official election mail, and complies with design standards reviewed by USPS. States may submit lists of eligible voters receiving absentee ballots through USPS no fewer than 60 days before an election.
Implementation requires coordination between DHS, SSA, USPS, and other relevant agencies. Enforcement measures include potential withholding of federal funds from noncompliant states or localities where permitted by law. Records related to voter participation must be preserved for five years following any federal election.
The executive order also includes provisions regarding severability should any part be held invalid and clarifies that it does not create enforceable rights against the government.
