Trump Order Sparks Debate Among Election Officials Over Voting Rules/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Election officials gather to assess Trump’s executive order reshaping voting rules. The order requires proof of citizenship, changes ballot deadlines, and threatens funding cuts. Lawsuits argue Trump is overstepping constitutional limits on presidential authority.
Trump’s Voting Overhaul Under Fire as Election Officials Convene — Quick Looks
- National Meeting: U.S. election officials met in North Carolina to assess Trump’s sweeping executive order on elections.
- Key Changes: The order mandates proof of citizenship for voter registration and bans ballots received after Election Day.
- Legal Pushback: 21 states and voting rights groups are suing, claiming the president is exceeding his constitutional authority.
- Federal vs. State Control: Critics argue election rules are constitutionally reserved for states and Congress—not the president.
- Threat to Voting Access: Officials warn millions may be disenfranchised without access to acceptable citizenship documents.
- Mail Voting at Risk: States that rely on mail voting, like Oregon and Washington, say the order threatens their entire system.
State Election Leaders Debate Trump’s Election Overhaul Order at National Summit
Deep Looks
April 24, 2025 | CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Election officials from across the country met Thursday to confront a sweeping new executive order issued by President Donald Trump that proposes a dramatic federal overhaul of how U.S. elections are conducted—an action critics say threatens the balance of power and voter access nationwide.
The bipartisan U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s (EAC) Standards Board convened in North Carolina for its annual meeting, which has now taken on urgent new significance. Officials from every state are now formally weighing how the president’s March 25 order would impact elections heading into 2026 and beyond.
Trump’s Election Executive Order: What It Proposes
The executive order directs the EAC to take swift action on several major election policy changes:
- Mandate Proof of Citizenship for all voters registering through the national voter registration form.
- Revoke Federal Election Funds for states accepting ballots postmarked by Election Day but received afterward.
- Update Voting System Guidelines and enforce compliance with new federal requirements.
Acceptable proof of citizenship includes a U.S. passport, REAL ID-compliant driver’s license, or military ID indicating citizenship. A government-issued ID paired with a separate citizenship document, like a birth certificate, also qualifies.
Legal and Constitutional Challenges Mount
Trump’s directive has triggered a flurry of lawsuits. At least 21 Democratic-led states and several voting rights organizations argue the order exceeds presidential authority and violates the Constitution’s Elections Clause, which reserves the power to regulate elections to state legislatures and Congress.
“The president is not granted control over the mechanics of elections,” said election law expert Jessica Marks. “That’s a fundamental separation-of-powers issue.”
Potential for Voter Disenfranchisement
Election officials raised serious concerns that the new requirements could disenfranchise millions—particularly low-income, elderly, and minority voters who may lack access to passports or birth certificates.
In Kansas, a state law with similar requirements was previously struck down after it blocked over 31,000 eligible voters from registering. In New Hampshire, town elections earlier this year experienced long delays and confusion due to documentation checks.
Threats to Mail Voting States
Several states—including Oregon and Washington—filed a separate lawsuit, arguing that Trump’s order would devastate their mail-in voting systems, which rely entirely on ballots sent through the mail. The executive order would deny these states federal funding unless they refuse to count ballots received after Election Day, even if postmarked on time.
“This executive order would force us to overhaul an election system that works efficiently and safely,” Oregon Secretary of State Julie Dalton said. “It’s federal overreach of the worst kind.”
Background: The Role of the EAC
The EAC was created by Congress in 2002 after the chaotic 2000 election to modernize voting systems, improve election security, and administer the national voter registration form. The agency does not have enforcement power, but it wields significant influence through guidelines and its management of federal grants for voting technology.
The EAC is now at the center of a constitutional tug-of-war, with the Trump administration demanding compliance and states resisting what they call an attempt to federalize elections.
What Comes Next
While Thursday’s meeting was advisory, it offered a rare national platform for election officials to voice concerns. Legal experts expect the issue to ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which may determine whether Trump can lawfully enact such sweeping election changes through executive order.
For now, lawsuits in federal courts in D.C., New Jersey, and Oregon are proceeding rapidly, with injunctions sought to prevent the EAC from enforcing the order before the 2026 midterms.
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