Donald Trump's Major Initiative to Alter Voting in the US, Using India as an Example

 

Donald Trump's Major Initiative to Alter Voting in the US, Using India as an Example

Donald Trump emphasized that the entitlement of American citizens to have their votes accurately counted and assessed, "without unlawful dilution," is crucial for identifying the true victor in an election.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump enacted an executive order aiming to implement significant reforms in US elections. This includes requiring voters to provide evidence of their American citizenship, accepting only mail or absentee ballots that arrive by Election Day, and banning non-US citizens from supporting certain elections financially.

Referencing India and various other nations, Trump indicated that the US currently does not enforce "fundamental and essential election safeguards" that are used by both developed and developing countries.

"Countries like India and Brazil link voter ID to a biometric system, whereas the United States primarily depends on self-reporting for citizenship," he stated.

"Germany and Canada demand paper ballots during the vote counting process, while the United States has an inconsistent array of practices that frequently lack basic chain-of-custody assurances," he continued.

Trump's directive further noted that nations such as Denmark and Sweden "logically" restrict mail-in voting to those who cannot vote in person and do not accept ballots that arrive late, no matter the postmark date. Conversely, many elections in the US now involve widespread mail-in voting, with numerous officials accepting ballots that lack postmarks or that arrive long after Election Day.

President Trump, who regained office in January after defeating Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, asserted that "free, fair, and honest elections free from fraud, mistakes, or mistrust are essential for upholding our constitutional Republic."

Trump's Initiative to Transform US Elections

Proof of US Citizenship

Donald Trump's directive requested updates to the federal voter registration form, mandating that individuals seeking to register must present proof of citizenship, such as a US passport or birth certificate.

Additionally, it stated that states are required to submit their voter registration lists and records pertaining to their maintenance to the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency for examination. It also ordered federal agencies to collaborate with states by sharing data to assist them in identifying noncitizens in their voter registries.

The directive indicated that states that do not cooperate with federal authorities in prosecuting electoral offenses could risk losing federal funding.

Ballots must be received by Election Day

The executive order stipulated that votes are to be "cast and received" by Election Day, determining that federal funding should be contingent upon state adherence to this timeline.

As reported by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 18 states in the United States, along with Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and Washington, DC, will accept ballots postmarked on or before Election Day, regardless of their arrival time.

Voting systems should not use QR codes

The order directed the Election Assistance Commission to revise its recommendations for voting mechanisms to ensure "election integrity." This would encompass guidelines stating that ballot counting should not depend on the use of barcodes or QR codes.

Trump instructed the commission to "take suitable measures to assess and, if warranted, re-certify voting systems" according to these newly established criteria within six months of the directive.

Prohibition on foreign donations

Additionally, Donald Trump's order prohibited foreign individuals from making contributions or donations in US elections.

"Foreign individuals and non-governmental organizations have exploited loopholes in the law’s interpretation, investing millions through conduits and expenses related to ballot initiatives. Such foreign interference in our electoral process threatens the right of American citizens to govern their Republic," he stated.