Trump pledges executive action to repair voting system

(MENAFN) U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to issue an executive order that would drastically restrict mail-in voting and require voter identification for every ballot cast. In a Truth Social post on Saturday, Trump claimed the move is necessary to protect the integrity of elections, which he argues are vulnerable to fraud.

According to Trump, the executive order would eliminate most forms of mail-in voting, allowing exceptions only for severely ill individuals and military personnel stationed abroad. He also insisted on a complete return to paper ballots and manual vote counting, stating, “Voter ID must be part of every single vote. No exceptions!”

Earlier this month, Trump said the order was currently being drafted by “the best lawyers in the country.” This proposal is part of a broader effort by Trump to reshape the U.S. electoral system—something he has pushed for since his 2020 loss to Joe Biden, which he continues to claim was the result of widespread fraud involving non-citizen voting, mail-in ballots, and electronic voting machines.

However, voting rights organizations have voiced strong opposition to Trump’s plan. One of their main concerns is the voter ID requirement, which they argue could disenfranchise millions. A 2023 study by the Brennan Center for Justice found that roughly 21.3 million Americans—about 9% of the voting-age population—do not have immediate access to proof of citizenship.

Additionally, Trump may face legal hurdles in enforcing these changes. Federal elections in the U.S. are run by individual states, not the federal government, and critics argue the president lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally impose such sweeping changes. They have accused Trump of attempting to exceed his executive powers to influence the outcome of future elections.

MENAFN03092025000070015687ID1110009748