Trump Announces Executive Order on Voter ID
President Donald Trump announced plans to sign an executive order requiring voter ID for elections nationwide. He shared the news on social media late Saturday night, adding that he aims to implement additional election reforms.
Trump’s Social Media Statement
On Truth Social, Trump wrote:
“Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military. USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!”
Past Attempts Blocked by Court
Earlier this year, Trump tried to enforce voter ID through a broader election integrity executive order. However, in April, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the U.S. District Court in D.C. struck down the voter ID provisions.
The judge ruled that Trump lacked the constitutional authority to mandate voter ID. She explained that the Constitution grants states control over elections, with Congress overseeing federal regulations. Kollar-Kotelly wrote:
“No statutory delegation of authority to the Executive Branch permits the President to short-circuit Congress’s deliberative process by executive order.”
Public Support for Voter ID
Despite legal challenges, voter ID remains popular among Americans. A Gallup poll conducted before the 2024 elections found that 84% of adults favor requiring voter identification. Similarly, 83% supported showing proof of citizenship when registering to vote for the first time.
Support spans political parties, though levels vary. The poll showed:
Voter ID: 67% of Democrats, 84% of Independents, 98% of Republicans
Proof of citizenship: 66% of Democrats, 84% of Independents, 96% of Republicans
Outlook
Trump’s announcement signals renewed efforts to reshape election rules. While public support is high, legal and constitutional hurdles may challenge the implementation of his proposed executive order.