Trump order to require citizenship proof for voting

President Donald Trump’s Tuesday order requires documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship as part of the voter registration process. It also requires federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security, the Social Security Administration, and the Department of State to give states access to databases for verifying voters’ eligibility and citizenship. Additionally, the order requires the attorney general to prioritize the prosecution of noncitizen voters. It goes on to require that all ballots must be received by Election Day.

What do critics say? The executive order is likely to be challenged in court. States have some constitutional power over elections. Groups like the League of Women Voters have long opposed voter ID laws, claiming that they fail to prevent voter fraud and disenfranchise black, Native American, elderly, and student voters. The nonprofit Brennan Center for Justice claims that as many as 11% of eligible voters don’t have the kind of ID required by states with strict ID requirements.

Why is the order necessary? The White House said the order was needed to ensure free, fair, and honest elections. It added that the United States lagged behind other nations in enforcing election security. Specifically, the Trump administration pointed to countries like India and Brazil, which tie voter identification to a biometric database. Germany and Canada require paper ballots when tabulating votes.

Dig deeper: Read Josh Schumacher’s report on California Gov. Gavin Newsom banning certain voter ID requirements last year.