WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed a sweeping executive order from the Oval Office outlining new federal actions intended to strengthen election integrity, enhance citizenship verification, and establish uniform standards for mail-in and absentee ballots.
The order cites constitutional authority as well as existing federal statutes, including the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, as the legal basis for the new directives. It states that the right to vote in federal elections is reserved exclusively for United States citizens under the Constitution and federal law, noting that existing statutes prohibit non-citizens from registering or voting in federal elections and impose criminal penalties for violations.
According to the order, federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA), will coordinate to compile and transmit what is described as a “State Citizenship List.” That list will include individuals confirmed to be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old and maintain residency within a given state.
Under the directive, DHS, through U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, will compile the citizenship lists using federal naturalization records, SSA records, and data from the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program, among other federal databases. The lists are to be updated and transmitted to state election officials at least 60 days before regularly scheduled federal elections, or sooner when requested for special elections.
The order also directs the Attorney General to prioritize investigations and prosecutions related to election fraud, including cases involving the issuance of ballots to individuals who are not eligible to vote in federal elections. That prioritization applies to state and local officials, contractors, and public or private entities involved in the administration of elections or distribution of ballots.
In addition to citizenship verification measures, the executive order instructs the United States Postal Service (USPS) to begin a rulemaking process establishing new standards for mail-in and absentee ballot handling.
Among the provisions outlined, the USPS will be directed to propose rules requiring outbound ballot mail to be clearly marked as Official Election Mail and to include automation-compatible envelopes bearing unique Intelligent Mail barcodes or successor technologies. Those identifiers are intended to facilitate ballot tracking and create an auditable record of ballot distribution.
The order further proposes that states notify USPS no fewer than 90 days prior to a federal election if they intend to transmit mail-in or absentee ballots using postal services. States may also provide USPS with lists of voters eligible to receive ballots, allowing USPS to maintain what the order describes as Mail-In and Absentee Participation Lists. Those lists will include unique ballot envelope identifiers assigned to participating voters.
Under the directive, USPS will coordinate with its Office of Inspector General and the Department of Justice to investigate suspected unlawful use of the mail related to election materials. The final rule governing ballot mailing standards must be issued within 120 days of the order.
The executive order also establishes timelines for federal agencies to implement the new framework. DHS is directed to create the infrastructure necessary to maintain and transmit the State Citizenship Lists within 90 days. The SSA is required to provide citizenship and identity data consistent with federal law and privacy protections.
Enforcement provisions within the order authorize federal agencies to take lawful steps to deter noncompliance with federal election laws. That includes the potential withholding of federal funds from states or localities that fail to comply with applicable federal statutes where such withholding is authorized by law.
Additionally, the order instructs states and localities to preserve records and materials related to voter participation in federal elections, excluding ballots themselves, for a period of five years.
The order includes standard legal provisions addressing severability, implementation consistency with applicable law, and clarification that the directive does not create enforceable rights for private parties against the federal government.
