President Donald Trump has consistently championed election integrity since his 2016 campaign, with his concerns intensifying after the contested 2020 election. Throughout his 2024 campaign, he emphasized this issue, pledging to restore confidence in America’s electoral process. On Tuesday, he fulfilled this promise by signing a new executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” which has garnered strong Republican support—reflected in an 82 percent approval rating from his March 4 address.
The executive order begins by highlighting how the United States lags behind countries like India and Brazil, which link voter identification to biometric data, while America relies on self-attestation of citizenship. It commends Germany and Canada for their use of paper ballots counted publicly—resulting in fewer disputes—contrasting this with America’s diverse voting methods that can lead to tracking inconsistencies. The order also points to Denmark and Sweden’s restricted mail voting policies, limited to those unable to vote in person, while criticizing America’s expanded mail-ballot system where late or unmarked ballots sometimes slip through verification processes.
Regarding voter registration, Trump’s approach is decisive—the Election Assistance Commission has 30 days to require citizenship proof on all national mail voter forms. This includes passports or state IDs meeting REAL ID standards, complete with issuance dates, expiration dates when applicable, issuing office information, and unique identification numbers for verification. This represents a significant change, as many Americans currently lack such identification, but Republicans consider it essential to prevent fraud—evidenced by 97 percent GOP approval for this requirement.
The order also establishes consequences—states failing to comply with federal election guidelines, including using the enhanced registration form, could face funding cuts from the Commission. This enforcement mechanism aims to ensure strict Election Day deadlines and citizenship verification, with the goal of removing ineligible voters from the rolls. Trump views this as addressing weaknesses in a system he has long criticized.
For citizens who have lost confidence in elections, Trump’s order represents a comprehensive approach—emphasizing paper ballots, stringent identification requirements, and strict vote submission deadlines. It’s not merely rhetoric but a strategic plan to address the mistrust that has grown since 2020, with Republicans arguing this intervention is overdue.
However, there’s a limitation—states retain significant constitutional authority over elections, and permanent reforms require congressional action. While this order takes important steps regarding voter rolls and mail ballots, it isn’t a complete solution. Republicans see it as Trump catalyzing reform in a system they believe has been too permissive for too long, and they’re prepared to extend these efforts further.
This executive order represents Trump’s direct challenge to the electoral system, demanding improvement and accountability. With his administration’s push and party support, it signals to all Americans that election integrity is paramount and he’s committed to preventing electoral dysfunction. Republicans view this as a victory for restoring trust and initiating necessary reforms.
