President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Tuesday, introducing major changes to how elections are conducted in the United States. The order focuses on making voting rules stricter to prevent fraud and ensure only US citizens can vote.

Trump said the US needs to follow the example of other countries, like India, Brazil, Germany, and Canada, which have stricter voting rules. He stated, "Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional republic."

Proof of US citizenship for voting

One of the key changes in Trump's order is that people must now show proof they are US citizens when they register to vote. This means they will need to provide documents like a US passport or birth certificate.

Trump criticised the current system, saying, "India and Brazil are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship."

The order also asks states to give their voter lists to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency. This is to help check whether any non-citizens are mistakenly listed as voters.

If a state refuses to cooperate with federal law enforcement to investigate election crimes, it could lose federal funding.

Mail ballots must arrive by election day

Another major rule in Trump's order is that all mail-in ballots must arrive by Election Day to be counted. Right now, some states accept ballots that arrive later if they are postmarked on time. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states, along with Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC, allow late-arriving ballots.

Trump said this needs to change, mentioning that countries like Denmark and Sweden “sensibly” limit mail voting to those who cannot vote in person and don’t count late-arriving ballots, no matter the postmark.

The order also bans the use of ballots that rely on QR codes or barcodes in the counting process. Trump instructed the Election Assistance Commission to update its guidelines and review voting machines to ensure they meet these new rules within six months.

No foreign money in US elections

Trump’s order also makes it illegal for foreign nationals to donate to US elections. He said, "Foreign nationals and non-governmental organisations have taken advantage of loopholes in the law's interpretation, spending millions of dollars through conduit contributions and ballot-initiative-related expenditures. This type of foreign interference in our election process undermines the franchise and the right of American citizens to govern their republic."

This rule aims to stop outside influence on American elections by closing legal loopholes that foreign donors might use.

Trump, who returned to power in January after defeating Democrat Kamala Harris, said the US must ensure its elections are fair and trustworthy. He added that American citizens’ votes should be counted properly, without being diluted by illegal votes.

"The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election," Trump said.

The order reflects Trump’s long-standing criticism of the voting system, especially after he lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden. He has repeatedly claimed the system needs fixing to prevent fraud and restore public trust.

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