President Donald Trump has signed a sweeping executive order overhauling the way federal elections are conducted in the United States, prompting widespread alarm from voting rights advocates, Democratic lawmakers, and constitutional experts who say the move is an overt attempt to undermine democracy and centralize power. The executive action requires documentary proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections and mandates that all ballots be received by Election Day. It also calls on states to share voter rolls with federal agencies and threatens to cut off federal funding to states that do not comply. The order claims the country has failed “to enforce basic and necessary election protections.”

Although the Constitution grants states broad authority over how elections are run, Trump’s directive seeks to federalize key aspects of voting access, effectively pressuring states into compliance or face financial penalties. Critics argue that the order is consistent with Trump’s long-running strategy of sowing doubt about election integrity. Since losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump has repeatedly pushed false claims of widespread voter fraud and has attacked various voting methods—especially mail-in ballots—before, during, and after elections. “This isn’t your typical MAGA voter suppression. It’s a blueprint for authoritarian control,” warned Max Flugrath of Fair Fight Action, one of the organizations at the forefront of protecting voting rights.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) voiced strong opposition to the order, highlighting how it could disproportionately affect every day Americans. “Now Trump wants to make it HARDER to vote if your name doesn’t exactly match on every document,” Crockett posted on social media. “That hits married folks who change their names, disaster survivors who lost paperwork, and so many others. This ain’t about security—it’s suppression.”

Activist Tom Joseph of Chicago dismissed the move as legally meaningless, suggesting it was more of a political stunt than a legitimate policy change. “Trump’s latest ‘Executive Order’ to change the election process is dead on arrival,” Joseph said. “He has zero authority over elections. He’s trying to distract from the Signal intelligence disaster. His EOs are a window into his fantasy world where he’s a king. He can’t function in a system with three equal branches of government.”

The order mirrors provisions in the proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, a bill pushed by congressional Republicans that would require proof of citizenship to vote. By signing the executive order, Trump bypasses the legislative process entirely, even as the SAVE Act struggles to gain traction in Congress. The move also echoes a controversial remark Trump made last year while campaigning for re-election. Trump said to a group of Christian supporters, “If you vote for me this November, in four years, you don’t have to vote again. We’ll have it fixed so good, you’re not gonna have to vote.” For many, the executive order is seen as an attempt to make good on that chilling promise.Trump Signs Controversial Election Executive Order, Critics Call It Blueprint for Authoritarian Rule