Trump signs executive order aimed at ‘fixing elections,’ promoting integrity
WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump is taking steps to make good on a campaign promise to fix elections in the United States.
On Tuesday, Trump signed an executive order looking to overhaul the election system with a focus on integrity.
The text of the order reads, “Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing.”
Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election.”
The order includes multiple actions geared toward reducing the number of illegal migrants on voter rolls. It would require documentary, government-issued proof of citizenship on voter registration forms as well as decrease federal funding for states that do not take “reasonable steps” to secure voter integrity.
The administration says the order directs the updating of the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards for voting equipment. This includes a requirement of voter-verifiable paper ballot records and not using ballots where the counted vote is “contained within a barcode or QR code.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi will be directed to enter into information-sharing agreements with state election officials to identify election fraud cases or law violations. The order also calls for officials to “take appropriate action against states that count ballots received after Election Day in Federal elections,” according to the administration.
It also revokes a Biden-era executive order designed to promote voting access by turning Federal agencies into Democratic voter turnout centers.
Election fraud. You’ve heard the term. Ended. Hopefully, at least this will go a long way toward ending it,” Trump said. “Perhaps, some people think I shouldn’t be complaining because we won in a landslide, but, we got to straighten out our election. This country is so sick because of the election, the fake elections and the bad elections. And we’re going to straighten it out, one way or the other.”
While signing the document, Trump promised that more election integrity actions would be taken in the coming weeks.
This executive order is expected to face legal challenges in the future, especially since the Constitution gives authority to the states for elections. Congress has the power to regulate voting, like passing the Voting Rights Act, while the Constitution is clear that it gives states the governance to set “times, places and manner” for elections.
