Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections – The White House

By the power vested in me as President through the Constitution and the laws of the United States, I hereby issue the following directive:

Section 1.  Purpose and Policy

Despite being a beacon of self-governance, the United States lags behind in enforcing essential election protections that are standard in many modern democracies, as well as in developing nations. Take, for example, India and Brazil, which have adeptly linked voter identification to biometric databases. In contrast, the U.S. predominantly depends on self-attestation of citizenship, which can be likened to trusting a child to keep a secret—highly unreliable. When it comes to vote counting, countries like Germany and Canada mandate the use of paper ballots that are publicly counted by local officials, significantly minimizing disputes. This is a stark contrast to the American hodgepodge of voting methods, which often leads to questions about the integrity of the chain of custody.

Moreover, nations such as Denmark and Sweden sensibly restrict mail-in voting to those genuinely unable to vote in person, and they do not count late ballots regardless of postmark dates. Meanwhile, many American elections have devolved into a mail-in free-for-all, with officials accepting ballots that lack postmarks or arrive long after Election Day.

To maintain our constitutional Republic, it is imperative that elections are conducted freely, fairly, and honestly, devoid of fraud, errors, or suspicion. The right of American citizens to have their votes accurately counted without illegal dilution is paramount in determining the rightful victors of elections. Under the Constitution, state governments bear the responsibility to uphold American elections in accordance with federal laws designed to protect voting rights and guard against illegal voting, discrimination, fraud, and other forms of misconduct. Yet, the U.S. has not sufficiently enforced federal election mandates, such as prohibiting states from counting ballots received after Election Day or allowing non-citizens to register.

Federal law establishes a uniform Election Day across the nation for federal elections, as delineated in 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1. This Administration is committed to enforcing these statutes, ensuring that votes are cast and received by the legally established election date. The recent ruling by the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit in Republican National Committee v. Wetzel (2024) reaffirmed that these laws dictate “the day by which ballots must be both cast by voters and received by state officials.” Yet, numerous states flout these laws by counting ballots that are received after Election Day, which is akin to allowing voters to stroll in three days post-election and cast their ballots—absurd indeed.

Several federal statutes, including 18 U.S.C. 1015 and 611, clearly prohibit foreign nationals from registering to vote or participating in federal elections. However, states have consistently failed to properly verify voters’ citizenship, and recent years have seen the Department of Justice neglecting to prioritize the enforcement of these provisions. To make matters worse, the previous administration actively obstructed states from purging non-citizens from their voter rolls.

Furthermore, federal laws, such as the National Voter Registration Act (Public Law 103-31) and the Help America Vote Act (Public Law 107-252), mandate that states maintain accurate and up-to-date statewide registries of every legally registered voter. The Department of Homeland Security is also obligated to share database information with states upon request to assist in fulfilling this responsibility. Maintaining accurate voter registration lists is critical to shielding voters from having their ballots invalidated or diluted by fraudulent votes.

Federal legislation, specifically 52 U.S.C. 30121, prohibits foreign nationals from making contributions or expenditures in federal, state, or local elections. However, loopholes in the interpretation of this law have allowed foreign nationals and non-governmental organizations to funnel millions of dollars into elections through indirect contributions and related expenditures. This foreign interference undermines the electoral franchise and the fundamental right of American citizens to govern their Republic.

Above all, elections must embody honesty and merit public trust. This necessitates voting methods that yield a voter-verifiable paper record, enabling voters to check their votes efficiently and protect against fraud or errors. Election-integrity standards must be adjusted accordingly. It is the policy of my Administration to enforce federal law and uphold the integrity of our electoral processes.

Sec. 2.  Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections

To enforce the federal prohibition against foreign nationals voting in federal elections:

(a)(i) Within 30 days of this order, the Election Assistance Commission shall take necessary actions to require, in its national mail voter registration form issued under 52 U.S.C. 20508:

• (A) documentary proof of United States citizenship, in line with 52 U.S.C. 20508(b)(3); and
• (B) a state or local official must record the type of document presented as proof of United States citizenship, including the document’s issuance date, expiration date (if applicable), the issuing office, and any unique identification number as stipulated by 52 U.S.C. 21083(a)(5)(A), ensuring information security measures are in place.

(ii) For the purposes of subsection (a), “documentary proof of United States citizenship” may include a copy of:

• (A) a United States passport;
• (B) an identification document that complies with the REAL ID Act of 2005 (Public Law 109-13, Div. B), indicating the applicant’s citizenship;
• (C) an official military identification card showing the applicant is a U.S. citizen; or
• (D) a valid federal or state government-issued photo identification, either indicating United States citizenship or accompanied by proof of citizenship.

(b) To identify unqualified voters registered in the states:

• (i) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall ensure that state and local officials have access to appropriate systems for verifying citizenship or immigration status of individuals registering to vote or already registered, free of charge;
• (ii) The Secretary of State shall take lawful actions to provide relevant database information to state and local election officials engaged in verifying the citizenship of individuals registering or already registered to vote;
• (iii) The Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the DOGE Administrator, shall review each state’s public voter registration list and maintenance records required by 52 U.S.C. 20507, alongside federal immigration databases and state records requested, including through subpoenas where lawfully authorized, to ensure compliance with federal requirements.

(c) Within 90 days of this order, the Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide the Attorney General with complete information on all foreign nationals who have indicated on any immigration form that they have registered or voted in any federal, state, or local election, and shall also submit relevant information to state or local election officials.

(d) The head of each federal voter registration executive department or agency under the National Voter Registration Act (52 U.S.C. 20506(a)) shall assess citizenship prior to providing federal voter registration forms to enrollees of public assistance programs.

(e) The Attorney General shall prioritize the enforcement of 18 U.S.C. 611 and 1015(f) and similar laws restricting non-citizens from registering to vote or voting, utilizing:

• (i) databases or information maintained by the Department of Homeland Security;
• (ii) state-issued identification records and driver license databases; and
• (iii) similar records concerning citizenship.

(f) The Attorney General shall coordinate with state attorneys general to assist with state-level review and prosecution of non-citizens unlawfully registered to vote or casting votes.

Sec. 3.  Providing Other Assistance to States Verifying Eligibility

To aid states in determining individual eligibility for voter registration and voting:

• (a) The Commissioner of Social Security shall make available the Social Security Number Verification Service, the Death Master File, and any other pertinent federal databases to state and local election officials verifying eligibility of individuals registering to vote or already registered. The Commissioner must ensure compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws and regulations.
• (b) The Attorney General shall ensure compliance with the requirements of 52 U.S.C. 20507(g).
• (c) The Attorney General shall take appropriate actions against states failing to comply with the list maintenance mandates of the National Voter Registration Act and the Help America Vote Act, as specified in 52 U.S.C. 20507 and 52 U.S.C. 21083.
• (d) The Secretary of Defense shall update the Federal Post Card Application, pursuant to the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (52 U.S.C. 20301), to require:

• (i) documentary proof of United States citizenship, as defined in section 2(a)(ii) of this order; and
• (ii) proof of eligibility to vote in the state in which the voter is attempting to cast a ballot.

Sec. 4.  Improving the Election Assistance Commission

• (a) The Election Assistance Commission shall, in line with 52 U.S.C. 21003(b)(3) and 21142(c), take appropriate measures to cease providing federal funds to states that do not comply with federal laws outlined in 52 U.S.C. 21145, including the mandate in 52 U.S.C. 20505(a)(1) that states accept and utilize the national mail voter registration form issued under 52 U.S.C. 20508(a)(1), including any requirement for documentary proof of U.S. citizenship adopted pursuant to section 2(a)(ii) of this order.
• (b)(i) The Election Assistance Commission shall initiate measures to amend the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and issue other relevant guidance to establish standards for voting systems that fortify election integrity. The amended guidelines shall specify that voting systems must not utilize ballots with votes contained within barcodes or quick-response codes in the counting process, except where necessary for individuals with disabilities, and must provide a voter-verifiable paper record to prevent fraud or errors.
• (ii) Within 180 days of this order, the Election Assistance Commission shall review and, if suitable, re-certify voting systems under the newly established standards and rescind all previous certifications based on outdated criteria.
• (c) Following an audit of Help America Vote Act fund expenditures as required by 52 U.S.C. 21142, the Election Assistance Commission shall report any discrepancies or issues regarding a audited state’s compliance certifications to the Department of Justice for appropriate enforcement actions.
• (d) The Secretary of Homeland Security and the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency shall prioritize funding for state or local election offices or administrators through the Homeland Security Grant Programs (6 U.S.C. 603 et seq.) with a strong emphasis on compliance with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and completion of testing via the Voting System Test Labs accreditation process.

Sec. 5.  Prosecuting Election Crimes

To safeguard the rights of American citizens and uphold their ability to engage in fair elections:

• (a) The Attorney General shall enter into information-sharing agreements with the chief state election officials or multi-member agencies of each state to the fullest extent possible. These agreements should aim to provide the Department of Justice with comprehensive information on all suspected violations of state and federal election laws uncovered by state officials, including individuals who:

• (i) registered or voted despite being ineligible or registered multiple times;
• (ii) committed election fraud;
• (iii) provided false information on voter registration or election forms;
• (iv) intimidated or threatened voters or election officials; or
• (v) otherwise engaged in unlawful conduct that interferes with the electoral process.

• (b) Should any states resist entering into such agreements or refuse to cooperate in investigations and prosecutions of election-related crimes, the Attorney General shall:

• (i) prioritize enforcement of federal election integrity laws in such states, given their unwillingness to collaborate;
• (ii) review the potential withholding of grants and other funds awarded by the Department to state and local governments for law enforcement and related purposes, as permitted by law.

• (c) The Attorney General shall ensure that the Department of Justice’s litigation positions align with the objectives and policies set forth in this order.

Sec. 6.  Improving Security of Voting Systems

To bolster the security of all voting equipment and systems used to cast ballots, tabulate votes, and report results:

• (a) The Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall take all necessary actions permitted under 42 U.S.C. 5195c and other applicable laws, as long as the Department of Homeland Security maintains the designation of election infrastructure as critical infrastructure, as defined by 42 U.S.C. 5195c(e), to prevent non-citizens from participating in any federal election administration, including accessing election equipment, ballots, or any other materials pertinent to the electoral process.
• (b) The Secretary of Homeland Security, in partnership with the Election Assistance Commission, shall review and report on the security of all electronic systems employed in the voter registration and voting process, assessing the risks of compromise through malicious software or unauthorized intrusions.

Sec. 7.  Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day

To ensure adherence to federal laws that establish a uniform day for appointing presidential electors and electing members of Congress:

• (a) The Attorney General shall take all necessary actions to enforce 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1 against states that violate these laws by including absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day in the final vote tally for appointing presidential electors and electing members of the United States Senate and House of Representatives.
• (b) In accordance with 52 U.S.C. 21001(b) and other applicable laws, the Election Assistance Commission shall condition any available funding to a state on that state’s compliance with the requirement in 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6) that each state adopt uniform and non-discriminatory standards defining what constitutes a vote, including the requirement for a uniform ballot receipt deadline of Election Day for all voting methods, with exceptions only for ballots cast under 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.

Sec. 8.  Preventing Foreign Interference and Unlawful Use of Federal Funds

The Attorney General, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, shall prioritize the enforcement of 52 U.S.C. 30121 and other relevant laws to prevent foreign nationals from contributing or donating in United States elections. Likewise, the Attorney General shall prioritize enforcing 31 U.S.C. 1352, which prohibits lobbying by organizations or entities that have received federal funds.

Sec. 9.  Federal Actions to Address Executive Order 14019

The heads of all agencies, along with the Election Assistance Commission, shall halt all actions implementing Executive Order 14019 of March 7, 2021 (Promoting Access to Voting), which was revoked by Executive Order 14148 on January 20, 2025 (Initial Rescissions of Harmful Executive Orders and Actions). Within 90 days of this order, a report detailing compliance with this order shall be submitted to the President through the Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy.

Sec. 10.  Severability

If any provision of this order, or its application to any agency, individual, or circumstance, is deemed invalid, the remainder of this order and its provisions shall remain unaffected and applicable to other agencies, individuals, or circumstances.

Sec. 11.  General Provisions

• (a) Nothing in this order shall be construed to impair or affect:

• (i) the authority granted by law to any executive department or agency, or its head; or
• (ii) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget concerning budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.

• (b) This order shall be implemented in accordance with applicable laws and subject to the availability of appropriations.
• (c) This order does not create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other individual.

DONALD J. TRUMP

THE WHITE HOUSE,
    March 25, 2025.