Purpose and Policy: The President has issued an executive order to strengthen election security and integrity in the United States. The order highlights concerns over inconsistent election protections and aims to align U.S. policies with best practices seen in other nations. The administration commits to enforcing federal laws that prevent non-citizens from voting, ensure ballots are received by Election Day, and maintain accurate voter registration lists.
Key Directives:
- Enforcing Citizenship Requirements:
- The Election Assistance Commission must require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration.
- The Department of Homeland Security and State Department will assist states in verifying voter eligibility.
- Federal agencies will prioritize enforcement against non-citizens voting or registering to vote.
- Strengthening Voter List Accuracy:
- Federal databases, including Social Security and immigration records, will be made available to states for voter verification.
- States must comply with federal requirements to maintain accurate voter lists, or they may lose federal election funding.
- Enhancing Voting System Security:
- The Election Assistance Commission will set stricter standards for voting systems, requiring paper-based records to prevent fraud.
- The Department of Homeland Security will assess electronic voting systems for security risks and foreign interference.
- Strict Enforcement of Election Day Laws:
- Ballots must be received by Election Day to be counted, as required by federal law.
- The Justice Department will take action against states that fail to comply with these requirements.
- Preventing Foreign Influence in Elections:
- Foreign nationals and organizations will be prohibited from making contributions or expenditures related to U.S. elections.
- The Treasury and Justice Departments will increase enforcement against foreign election interference.
- Reversing Previous Policies:
- The order repeals prior executive actions that expanded federal involvement in voter registration efforts.
Implementation and Compliance: Federal agencies must ensure compliance with this order and prioritize election security measures. States that fail to meet federal election integrity standards risk losing federal funding.
This executive order reinforces the administration’s commitment to free, fair, and secure elections by standardizing voting practices, enforcing existing laws, and increasing protections against fraud and foreign interference.
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