Trump Executive Order Provides a Backdoor to Election Integrity if Congress Fails to Act
New executive order crushes mail-in vulnerabilities and guarantees only American citizens decide elections.
President Donald Trump's election-related executive order on March 31 slid under the headlines, but it provides a creative way to secure fair voting if Congress fails to pass the election reform that voters demand. The order directs federal agencies to build a citizenship verification system for state election officials; requires the USPS to establish trackable, barcoded standards for mail-in ballots; and prevents the USPS from returning mail-in ballots from ineligible voters.
Trump and Congressional Republicans received a historic mandate, in 2024, driven largely by frustration over lax election laws that make fraudulent voting and tabulation errors too common. As the Republican-led Senate stalls passage of the Safeguard Voter American Eligibility Act (SAVE America Act), by refusing to force a talking filibuster, it falls on the president to protect elections as best he can, according to existing legislation.
Preempting Illegal Mail-In Ballot Harvesting
The gravest danger for voter fraud is ballot harvesting mail-in ballots. Ensuring every voter is registered does not guarantee zero fraud, but it makes cheating significantly more difficult.
It gives states a list of eligible voters
Rather than waiting on states to produce questionable-looking voter registration lists before taking legal action, this order creates a new "State Citizenship Lists" system. If states send mail-in ballots to anyone not on that pre-approved list, the Department of Justice has grounds to sue.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS)—working through United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), the Social Security Administration (SSA), and the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements (SAVE) program—will compile verified citizenship records and transmit them to state election officials at least 60 days before every federal election.
This order gives states a reliable federal tool to confirm voter eligibility. For states that care about cracking down on voter fraud and tabulation errors, this will offer time-saving aid. For those that don’t, it makes it easier for the federal government to ensure compliance with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which demands states maintain accurate voter rolls.
The tools this order provides ensure the federal government preempts sloppy administration of mail-in ballots. For instance, if someone fills out a ballot in another voter's name, that legitimate voter will discover it when they try to vote in person. Whereas, if someone fills in a mail-in ballot for a deceased person or non-resident, no one will ever be the wiser.
It improves ballot tracking through USPS
The order also stipulates that ballots must be marked "Official Election Mail,” including with an official election mail logo and requires automation-compatible envelopes with unique Intelligent Mail barcodes for real-time tracking.
Ideally, no state would allow mail-in voting and would allow excuse-only absentee voting for extraordinary circumstances. But without Congressional legislation limiting it, requiring the U.S. Postal Service to establish uniform security standards for election mail is the next best thing.
It prohibits USPS from returning ineligible ballots
States that plan to use postal services for mail-in or absentee voting must also notify USPS at least 90 days in advance. The USPS would not be allowed to transmit returned ballots from any individual not on a pre-submitted Mail-In and Absentee Participation List.
States that don't comply with federal election law and the provisions of this order would risk losing federal funding where possible.
The attorneys general of 24 states have challenged this order in court. A Massachusetts District Court hearing is set for June 2.
Even if some aspects of this order are still tied up in the courts during the 2026 midterms, the core tenets of it are likely to survive before the 2028 election, as it simply empowers federal agencies to uphold federal law. Providing states with a list of eligible citizens rather than waiting on discrepancies is the quickest way to ensure fair elections. Empowering the USPS to deny mail-in ballots from ineligible voters will cut down significantly on potential fraudulent ballot harvesting. Through this order, Trump can fulfill his promises on election integrity to voters within the scope of his constitutional powers in the face of a Republican-led Senate that refuses to force a floor fight on election legislation.
MORE ELECTION INTEGRITY COVERAGE FROM RESTORATION NEWS
Myth Busted: Who's Really Suppressing the Vote? Debunking Democrats' Attacks on Election Integrity
Senate Inaction: John Thune Must Fight for a Talking Filibuster on the SAVE America Act
More Mythology: Lying Leftist Ladies Think Women are Too Dumb and Lazy to Vote With ID
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