Editor’s Note
This article reports on a new executive order concerning voter registration requirements. The original text contained an incomplete sentence regarding electoral outcomes, which has been removed for clarity and factual completeness. The core reported information on the order’s stated purpose and current registration procedures stands.
US President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday related to changes in the electoral process. Under this, American citizens will have to provide proof of citizenship for voter registration.
According to officials of the Trump administration, the aim is to curb illegal immigrants included in voter lists. Currently, in many states of the US, there is no requirement to show a passport or birth certificate for voter registration.
Trump had attributed his loss in the 2020 election to fraudulent voting. However, states have prepared to challenge this order of Trump in court.
In the order, Trump said that voters in India and Brazil are linking any individual’s identity to a biometric database, while in the US, citizens largely rely on self-attestation for this.
There are no uniform rules regarding voting in the US. Every state has its own separate laws. In states like Texas, Georgia, and Indiana, the voting process is extremely strict. Here, it is mandatory to show a photo ID (such as a driving license, passport) to cast a vote.
Meanwhile, states like California, New York, and Illinois are not as strict regarding voting. In these states, voting can be done by stating name and address or by showing a document such as an electricity bill.
Additionally, in states like Michigan, a photo ID is asked for while casting a vote. If someone does not have it, they can vote by signing an affidavit.
Executive orders are orders issued unilaterally by the President. These orders have the force of law. They do not require approval from Congress. Congress cannot overturn them. However, they can be challenged in court.
These executive orders have been prepared with the aim of fulfilling Trump’s electoral promises.
Need to Prove Citizenship: Proof of citizenship, such as a passport, driving license, will be mandatory for voting.
Appeal for Cooperation from States: The order appeals to states to cooperate, share voter lists with the federal government, and help in investigating election-related crimes.
Mail-in Ballot Deadline: Mail-in ballots received after the election ends will be considered invalid.
Funding Cuts for Non-Compliance: The order clearly states that if any state does not comply with these new rules, the funding assistance given to them can be cut.
There are political and historical reasons behind the differences among states regarding voting. Voter ID stops fraud, while some believe it causes trouble for poor or minority voters. This debate has been going on for years.
The Democratic Party has typically opposed the demand for mandatory voter ID for voting. The party has consistently given the reason behind this that it will make voting difficult for the poor, minorities, elderly, and those living in rural areas.
In fact, not everyone in the US has a government ID, especially people from Black, Latino, and poor communities. The Democratic Party believes this will exclude these people from the voting process.
On the other hand, the Republican Party alleges that in states where the Democratic Party is strong, there are a large number of illegal immigrants. These illegal immigrants get voter registration done fraudulently and vote for the Democratic Party. Therefore, the Democratic Party opposes the demand for mandatory identification for voting.
Under this executive order, strict restrictions have been imposed on foreign citizens donating to US elections. In fact, in the last few years, donations from foreign citizens have become a major issue in US elections.
One major reason for this is Swiss billionaire Hansjörg Wyss, who has donated hundreds of millions of dollars in the US. He is considered anti-Trump. An organization supported by Wyss, the Sixteen Thirty Fund, donated 3.9 million US dollars to ensure abortion protection in Ohio’s constitution.
Recently, Kansas also passed a similar bill, which bans donations by foreign citizens, companies, governments, or political parties to run campaigns for or against the state’s constitutional amendments.