Yesterday, Trump signed a new executive order in a dangerous attempt to target people based on their race, income, and zip code. It’s an attempt to restrict who gets a voice in our democracy, making it harder for millions to cast a ballot and be heard. Instead of voters choosing their leaders, it paves the way for MAGA extremists to decide who gets to participate in the first place.
- We’re not going to sugarcoat; this is bad.
This EO is an executive power grab and a direct escalation of the broader MAGA effort to undermine our voting rights, point blank. It attempts to force new restrictions on how people can register to vote and who — most notably by requiring proof of citizenship. That sounds like it’s not a big deal, but in practice, it would create unnecessary and burdensome barriers to voting — especially for communities who already face barriers to voting. Naturalized citizens, voters of color, young people, people with disabilities, and older adults are all far more likely to be impacted, especially because they might not have access to documents like passports or birth certificates. This means millions of eligible voters could be disenfranchised simply for lacking paperwork that has never been required to exercise their fundamental right to vote.
It would also go after states that count mail-in ballots received after election day, even though several states legally allow that under their election laws. It also threatens to withhold federal funding from states that don’t comply with these new, extreme standards–a move that could create complete chaos and confusion for election administrators.
2. But here’s the thing: much of this is illegal and unnecessary.
Despite the dangerous rhetoric, much of this executive order's demands are unconstitutional.
- It tries to direct the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), an independent agency, to make policy changes–something the president does NOT have the authority to do.
- It contradicts existing court rulings, like Arizona vs. Inter-Tribal Council (2013), which clarified that states can’t unilaterally add proof of citizenship requirements to the federal form. On top of that, it’s already very clear across the country that non-citizens can’t vote in federal elections, and strict safeguards are already in place to prevent it from happening. This order is trying to make it more difficult for citizens to vote in the name of “solving” a problem that doesn’t exist.
- It also likely violates federalism principles (rules, legal precedents, and constitutional ideas that protect a balance of power — especially from federal overreach) by coercing states with funding threats, something courts have repeatedly pushed back on.
The ACLU is already suing, and legal experts agree this might not hold up in court. At its core, it’s political theater meant to rally a base obsessed with voter fraud myths — not a serious policy grounded in law. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore it. If left unchallenged, it could pose serious threats to our democracy by normalizing voter suppression and laying the groundwork for disenfranchising millions.
3. Here’s what else we should watch for, especially next week: H.R. 22.
The executive order is terrible, yes. But an additional, longer-term danger is H.R. 22, what we’re calling the “Silencing Americans Act,” a bill introduced by Trump allies in Congress that would legally mandate documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. It’s likely coming to the floor for a vote next week.
Think of it this way: the two work hand-in-hand — the EO sets the stage, and the Silencing Americans Act tries to make it law. If passed, this legislation would be a massive rollback of voting rights under the guise of “election integrity.”
What Can You Do?
Push back on the Silencing Americans Act loudly. Tell your members of Congress and Senators to reject this bill and any efforts to take away or undermine our voting rights.
