Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Ensures Citizenship Verification and Voter Eligibility in Federal Elections

On March 31, 2026, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order aimed at strengthening federal election integrity by implementing national citizenship verification and securing mail-in and absentee ballot procedures through the United States Postal Service (USPS).Key components of the Executive Order include:Citizenship Verification Lists: The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) are directed to compile "State Citizenship Lists" of confirmed U.S. citizens aged 18 and older. These lists will be transmitted to states at least 60 days before federal elections to help officials verify voter eligibility.Postal Security Standards: The Postmaster General will initiate new rules requiring all mail-in and absentee ballots to use secure envelopes marked as "Official Election Mail." These envelopes must feature unique Intelligent Mail barcodes to allow for precise tracking and auditing.Restricted Ballot Transmission: The USPS is prohibited from transmitting ballots to any individual not appearing on a state-provided "Mail-in and Absentee Participation List," a move intended to ensure ballots are only sent to eligible voters.Strict Enforcement and Penalties: The Attorney General is directed to prioritize the prosecution of election officials or entities that distribute ballots to ineligible voters. Furthermore, the administration may withhold federal funds from states and localities that refuse to comply with these security standards.Administrative Justification: The order leverages existing tools like the DHS SAVE program to address what the administration describes as "self-certification loopholes" and lax verification that undermine public confidence in elections.The administration characterizes this action as the fulfillment of a core campaign promise to secure U.S. elections "once and for all." This order builds on a previous March 2025 Executive Order and aligns with the President's ongoing push for Congress to pass the SAVE America Act.