U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order imposing stricter voting controls, including requiring proof of citizenship for registration.
The order mandates that voters present valid citizenship documents, such as passports, when registering in their state of residence for elections.
States failing to comply with these new regulations could lose access to federal election funding, as outlined in the executive directive.
Additionally, the order authorizes the attorney general to challenge states that count mail-in ballots received after the official Election Day.
Legal experts and civil rights organizations swiftly condemned the directive, warning it could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters nationwide.
Richard Hasen, a UCLA law professor, criticized the order as a dangerous power grab undermining state authority over federal elections.
The Brennan Center for Justice denounced the policy, stating it would block millions of American citizens from exercising their voting rights.
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called it an extreme abuse of power and vowed immediate legal action against enforcement.
Voting by non-citizens in U.S. federal elections remains illegal, with offenders facing potential fines, imprisonment, and deportation under existing federal law.
Critics argue that Trump’s executive order is politically motivated, aiming to suppress voter participation rather than ensuring election integrity nationwide.
