ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS

This Executive Order, signed by President Donald J. Trump on March 31, 2026, establishes a comprehensive federal framework to ensure that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections and to implement new security standards for mail-in and absentee ballots.The administration characterizes the order as a fulfillment of its constitutional duty to maintain public confidence in election outcomes and enforce federal criminal laws regarding voter eligibility.Key Mandates of the Executive Order:State Citizenship Lists: The Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS), in coordination with the Social Security Administration (SSA), is directed to compile and transmit to each state a list of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote. This "State Citizenship List" must be updated and provided at least 60 days before any federal election to help states verify eligibility.USPS Security Standards for Ballots: The Postmaster General must initiate a rulemaking process within 60 days to set uniform standards for mail-in ballots. Key requirements include:Mandatory "Official Election Mail" logos and design reviews.Unique Intelligent Mail barcodes on every outbound ballot envelope to allow for tracking and auditing.A prohibition on the USPS transmitting mail-in ballots unless the individual is enrolled on a verified "Mail-In and Absentee Participation List" provided by the state.Prioritized Prosecutions: The Attorney General is instructed to prioritize the investigation and prosecution of any state or local officials—as well as private entities—involved in the illegal distribution of ballots to non-citizens.Enforcement and Funding: The order authorizes the federal government to take "all lawful steps" to address non-compliance, including withholding federal funds from states and localities that fail to adhere to these federal election laws and verification standards.Record Preservation: States and localities are directed to preserve all materials related to voter participation (such as ballot envelopes), excluding the actual ballots cast, for a period of five years.Individual Redress: DHS must establish procedures allowing individuals to access and correct their citizenship records in federal databases ahead of elections.The administration frames these actions as a "commonsense" effort to harden the election system against fraud by using federal resources to assist states in maintaining clean and accurate voter rolls.