Trump Announces Executive Order on Voter ID, Mail-In Ballots, and Paper Voting

by Emmitt Barry, with reporting from Washington D.C. Bureau Staff

WASHINGTON (Worthy News) – President Donald Trump said Saturday he intends to sign an executive order mandating strict voter ID requirements, limiting mail-in ballots, and ending the use of electronic voting machines in federal elections.

“Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS!” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military. USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!”

The president did not provide a timeline for the order but tied the move to his ongoing push for election changes ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Trump has repeatedly argued—without evidence—that mail-in voting and electronic systems have led to widespread fraud, echoing claims he has made since his 2020 election defeat.

If enacted, the order would likely face swift legal challenges. Elections are largely administered by states, and the U.S. Constitution grants Congress—not the executive branch—authority to set election rules. A federal judge already blocked most of Trump’s March executive order requiring proof-of-citizenship documentation for voter registration, ruling that the order exceeded presidential authority.

Still, Trump has directed the Department of Government Efficiency, led by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, to review voter registration data and identify potential inaccuracies. At the state level, Republicans have begun aligning with Trump’s agenda: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new congressional map on Aug. 29 that expands GOP representation, while California Democrats are pushing countermeasures to bolster their own delegation.

Supporters argue Trump’s proposals would safeguard elections against fraud. Critics counter that they would disenfranchise eligible voters, particularly those who face hurdles in updating identification or rely on absentee ballots. Thirty-six states already require or request some form of voter identification, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.

Legal experts say Trump’s executive order—if issued—will likely become the focus of another major court battle over the balance of state and federal power in U.S. elections.

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