To prevent election fraud, US President Donald Trump issued a new executive order on Tuesday, March 25. According to this order, voters must now present proof of citizenship, such as a passport, birth certificate, or other official documents, to cast their votes. This information was reported by the British news agency Reuters.
Additionally, the order prohibits counting mail-in ballots that arrive after the official election day deadline. Trump has instructed the Election Assistance Commission to take necessary steps to implement these measures.
Trump expressed confidence that this order would prevent election fraud, calling it a major step toward ensuring fair elections. He further stated that additional measures would be taken to secure the integrity of the voting process.
“Our electoral system must be cleaned up,” Trump said. “The country is suffering due to fraudulent and corrupt elections.”
Referring to the 2020 election, Trump reiterated his claim that he had won by a large margin but was deprived of victory due to alleged fraud. He stated that this new executive order is intended to prevent both legal and illegal non-citizens from voting. Trump has long argued that fraudulent votes are being cast in US elections, although researchers have challenged his claim, stating that the number of fraudulent votes from immigrants is very low.
Democrats and progressives have strongly opposed Trump’s decision. Critics argue that requiring proof of citizenship will create difficulties for many voters, especially the elderly and low-income individuals who may lack such documents or face challenges in obtaining them.
Lisa Gilbert, vice president of the public interest group Public Citizen, condemned Trump’s order as a “direct attack on democracy” and an attempt to “consolidate authoritarian power.”
She warned that the executive order would weaken the US electoral system and disenfranchise millions of voters, particularly minority groups who may be deprived of their fundamental voting rights.