Order directs federal agencies to create verified voter lists, tighten absentee ballot controls, and prioritize enforcement ahead of elections.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order establishing new federal requirements for mail-in voting, including directing the Department of Homeland Security to verify U.S. citizens eligible to vote.
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According to a report by The Daily Caller, the order requires the Secretary of Homeland Security, working with the Social Security Administration, to compile state-by-state lists of verified eligible voters. States are to receive updated lists at least 60 days before each federal election.
The order also mandates changes to absentee ballot distribution and tracking. Under the directive, the United States Postal Service will only send absentee ballots to individuals included on each state’s approved mail-in voter list. Ballots must also be issued in secure envelopes with unique barcodes designed for tracking.
In addition, the order instructs the U.S. attorney general to prioritize investigations and prosecutions involving ballots sent to ineligible voters. It also states that states failing to comply with the new requirements could face the loss of federal funding.
The executive action comes as legislative efforts to address election procedures remain stalled. The SAVE America Act has not advanced in the Senate, where procedural hurdles continue to block its passage.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune and other lawmakers have discussed the possibility of advancing the measure through reconciliation, a process that requires a simple majority. However, Senate rules limit reconciliation to budget-related items, making its use for election policy uncertain without approval from the Senate parliamentarian.
The remaining legislative option would involve eliminating the filibuster to allow passage with a simple majority vote.
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was present in the Oval Office during the signing of the executive order.