President Trump signed an executive order Tuesday that would restrict mail-in voting and establish a national voter database, moves that legal experts say face serious constitutional obstacles.
The order directs the administration to create a federal list of citizens eligible to vote in each state. Under the directive, the postal service would send mail-in ballots only to individuals on that list.
At a White House press conference, Trump expressed support for requiring voter identification and proof of citizenship requirements. He also made claims about mail-in voting that have been contradicted by election officials and researchers.
The unprecedented nature of the order has drawn swift criticism from those who question its legal foundation. Legal scholars and voting rights advocates argue the measure conflicts with constitutional provisions governing voting access and state election authority.
The proposal faces substantial hurdles in court. Constitutional scholars point to established doctrine that reserves significant election administration power to individual states, as well as federal protections for voting access established through decades of legislation and court precedent.
The timing of the order reflects ongoing Republican focus on voting methods and election administration, a priority that has intensified since the 2020 presidential election. Voting by mail has become more common in recent years, particularly following pandemic-related changes to election procedures.
Legal observers expect the order will face prompt challenges if implemented, with potential cases working through federal courts in coming months.
Comments