Trump signs order aimed at overhauling US elections

Recently, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that aims to change how federal elections are conducted in the United States. This new order requires voters to provide proof of citizenship when they go to vote. This means that people will need to show documents like a passport or a special identification card to prove that they are citizens. Many experts are concerned that this requirement could make it difficult for millions of Americans to vote, especially those who do not have easy access to these types of documents. The order is titled 'Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections' and was signed by Trump at the White House. During the signing, Trump stated, 'Election fraud. You've heard the term. We're going to end it, hopefully. At least this will go a long way toward ending it. ' This statement reflects his belief that the new order will help prevent cheating in elections. In addition to requiring proof of citizenship, the order also seeks to limit the acceptance of mail-in ballots. Under the new rule, states will not be allowed to accept ballots that arrive after election day. Currently, there are 18 states that permit ballots to be counted if they are postmarked by election day, even if they arrive late. If states do not comply with the new order, they risk losing federal funding. Trump has previously claimed that 'millions' of illegal immigrants voted in his first election campaign, but experts argue that there have been very few instances of illegal voting by non-citizens. In fact, it is already illegal for non-citizens to vote in federal elections, as established by the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The legal basis for this new order is expected to face challenges in court. Wendy Weiser, a representative from the Brennan Center for Justice, expressed her concerns, stating that the president cannot override laws passed by Congress that dictate what is required to register to vote. She emphasized that the rules for voting are determined by Congress, and the president does not have the authority to change them unilaterally. Additionally, UCLA law professor Rick Hasen pointed out that elections are primarily managed by individual state governments. If this order is upheld, it could significantly shift power from the states to the federal government, which raises questions about the future of election administration in the United States. Many people are watching closely to see how this situation develops and what it means for the voting rights of Americans.