The executive order signed by President Trump on March 25, 2025, contains several key provisions that aim to overhaul the U.S. election system:

• Requires documentary proof of citizenship, such as a U.S. passport, for federal voter registration12

• Mandates that all ballots be received by Election Day, prohibiting the counting of late-arriving absentee and mail ballots12

• Directs federal agencies to assist states in verifying voter eligibility through access to immigration and social security databases3

• Enhances prosecution of election fraud and restricts foreign influence in elections3

• Prioritizes paper-based voting methods and changes voting system certification guidelines to largely ban the use of barcodes or QR codes1

• Threatens to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply with the order's requirements21

These provisions represent a significant shift in federal election policy, with potential far-reaching consequences for voter access and state election administration practices4.

The executive order's stringent requirements are likely to have a significant impact on voter access across the United States. Voting rights organizations are expected to swiftly challenge the order, which could potentially disenfranchise millions of eligible voters12. The citizenship proof requirement may particularly affect naturalized citizens and those without easy access to documentation, while the prohibition on counting absentee and mail ballots received after Election Day could disproportionately impact rural voters and those relying on postal services3.

• The order threatens to withhold federal funds from states that don't comply with its provisions, potentially forcing states to choose between maintaining voter access and securing crucial funding13.

• Changes to voting system certification guidelines could require states to overhaul their existing equipment, potentially leading to confusion and delays in the voting process3.

• The Department of Homeland Security's review of state voter rolls may result in increased voter purges, further complicating access for eligible voters3.

The executive order's requirements could disproportionately affect certain demographics, potentially exacerbating existing disparities in voter access. Married women who have changed their names may face difficulties due to discrepancies between their birth certificates and current legal names1. Additionally, marginalized communities with limited access to citizenship documents could be particularly impacted by the new proof of citizenship requirement12. The order's restrictions on mail-in voting may also create barriers for voters who rely on this method, including elderly and disabled individuals, as well as those living in rural areas with limited polling locations13.