Key information
- An executive order from President Donald Trump aims to restrict mail-in voting nationwide.
- This decree immediately became the subject of legal challenges from its opponents, who claim that it deprives voters of their rights.
- This initiative by Trump is part of his campaign to limit postal voting, which he has falsely described as a source of widespread fraud.
Trump issued an executive order to limit mail-in voting practices in preparation for the 2026 US elections. The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security, in conjunction with the Social Security Administration, to compile a list of US citizens verified and eligible to vote in every state.
This list would be transmitted to the various states, and the Minister of Justice is responsible for prioritizing investigations and prosecutions related to the issuance of ballots to ineligible voters. Additionally, the executive order provides for the suspension of federal funds to states that do not comply with these provisions.
Restrictions on voting by mail
The order also imposes requirements on the Postal Service, directing it to deliver ballots only to people on state-specific absentee and proxy voting lists.
Additionally, all submitted ballots must be placed in secure envelopes marked “Official Election Mail” and provided with unique barcodes for tracking purposes. This directive has drawn criticism because it is generally election authorities that manage the distribution of ballots, not the postal service.
Expected legal remedies
Opponents of the order argue that it would disenfranchise millions of Americans and violate constitutional principles by interfering in state election administration. Legal challenges are expected, which could delay its implementation before the November midterm elections. Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell has vowed to take legal action to ensure the right to vote for all eligible Massachusetts residents.
The NAACP, the oldest and most influential civil rights organization in the United States, called the decree unconstitutional and fanciful, and vowed to challenge it through the courts and by mobilizing its members. The executive order reflects Trump’s long-standing efforts to restrict mail-in voting since his electoral defeat to Joe Biden in 2020. He has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud linked to mail-in ballots.
Pressure on Congress
The executive order comes as Trump puts continued pressure on Congress to pass the SAVE America Act, which would impose stricter requirements for voter identification and proof of U.S. citizenship.
While the House of Representatives approved the measure, the Senate has not yet voted. Trump warned Republicans that they risk losing the November midterm elections if they fail to pass these voting restrictions. (fc)
Also follow Business AM on Google News
If you want to access all articles, subscribe here!
