In a sweeping executive action to overhaul the existing election process, US President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an order mandating the documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration.
According to The Associated Press, Trump's executive order asserted that the US has failed to enforce basic and necessary election protections. "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", the order read.
The order also urged the states to collaborate with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election-related crimes. It also warned that failing to do the same would lead to cuts in federal funding. The order also ensured that all ballots are received by election day.
"Above all, elections must be honest and worthy of the public trust. That requires voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake. Election-integrity standards must be modified accordingly. It is the policy of my Administration to enforce Federal law and to protect the integrity of our election process," the order read, as per a report by India Today.
Citizenship Document Mandatory Now
Trump's move to mandate citizenship documents was aligned with his repeated claims of election irregularities and fraud, and it reflected the objectives of the Republican-backed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act.
The new order directed the federal voter registration form to mandate proof of citizenship, such as a passport, for eligibility to vote in federal elections.
The order also cited examples of India and Brazil as the developing nations are linking voter identification to a biometric database, while the voter registration process in the US largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.
What Are The Concerns?
While the Republican lawmakers came out in support of the order, voting rights organisations and Democrats have strongly condemned the order, expressing concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement.
Citing a report by the Brennan Centre for Justice, The Associated Press reported that an estimated 9 percent of US citizens of voting age, which amounts to 21.3 million people, are yet to receive proof of citizenship.
Problems in the registration process will also be faced by the married women who have changed their names, as their birth certificates list their maiden names.
The order is expected to face legal challenges, as the Constitution grants states the primary authority over election processes, and explicitly empowers states to determine the "times, places, and manner" of elections, although the Congress has the power to regulate voting.
