United States President Donald Trump has issued an executive order effecting sweeping changes to the country’s federal election process, citing the need for stronger verification measures and citing India’s example of linking voter identification to biometric databases.
The order, signed on Tuesday (local time), mandates that voters must now furnish proof of citizenship during federal elections while also curbing the timeframe for accepting mail-in ballots.
It directs the Election Assistance Commission to amend the national mail voter registration form within 30 days, requiring documentary evidence such as a passport, REAL ID-compliant identification, military ID, or other government-issued photo identification confirming citizenship.
Drawing comparisons with electoral practices in other nations, the order highlights 'disparities' in voting procedures.
It points out that while India and Brazil have tied voter identification to biometric databases for greater accuracy, the United States primarily depends on self-attestation, raising concerns over verification.
Also read: Canada warns of election interference by India
“In tabulating votes, Germany and Canada require the use of paper ballots, counted in public by local officials, which substantially reduces the number of disputes as compared to the American patchwork of voting methods that can lead to basic chain-of-custody problems,” the order stated.
Furthermore, the directive highlights differences in mail-in voting procedures.
While Denmark and Sweden impose strict regulations limiting postal ballots to those unable to vote in person, and refuse to count late-arriving votes irrespective of postmark dates, many American states permit extensive mail-in voting, with ballots often accepted without postmarks or arriving well past Election Day.
To address these concerns, the order instructs the Secretary of Homeland Security to provide state and local officials free access to citizenship verification systems.
The Secretary of State has also been tasked with sharing relevant database information to identify unqualified voters.
Additionally, agencies operating under the National Voter Registration Act will now be responsible for verifying citizenship before distributing voter registration forms to public assistance beneficiaries.
Follow us
