Voter ID, paper ballots, same day voting, proof of citizenship to register to vote

(by Caitlyn Frolo, The National News Desk and Elise DeGeeter, CatholicVote) — President Donald Trump is taking steps to [fulfill his] 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.

While signing the document, Trump promised that more election integrity actions would be taken. …

“This will go a long way toward ending [election fraud],” Trump said during the signing. “There are other steps we will be taking in the coming weeks, and we think we will end up getting fair elections.”

The move comes amid ongoing concerns over election integrity – concerns that intensified after the 2020 presidential election and carried into 2024. A national poll conducted ahead of Election Day 2024 found that nearly 6 in 10 Americans were concerned or very concerned about voter fraud.

Despite these widespread concerns, 15 states did not require voters to show identification for the 2024 election, according to Ballotpedia.

The new executive order, outlined in a White House fact sheet, revokes former President Joe Biden’s Executive Order 14019, which directed federal agencies to promote mail-in ballot access.

Trump’s order also conditions federal election funds on state compliance with its election integrity standards. It bans the use of QR code-only ballots, requires paper ballot records, directs the Justice Department to work with states to investigate election fraud, and prohibits counting ballots received after Election Day in federal races.

“We’re going to fix our elections so that our elections are going to be honorable and honest, and people leave and they know their vote is counted,” Trump wrote in a White House statement. “We are going to have free and fair elections. And ideally, we go to paper ballots, same-day voting, proof of citizenship, very big, and voter ID, very simple.”

Compiled from articles published at KOMO News/The National News Desk and at CatholicVote on March 25. Reprinted here for educational purposes only. May not be reproduced on other websites without permission.