Trump issues executive order enforcing citizenship requirement in federal elections

President Donald Trump issued an executive order on election integrity on Tuesday, including enforcing a citizenship requirement for voters in federal elections.

"Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic," the executive order reads. "The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election.

"Under the Constitution, State governments must safeguard American elections in compliance with Federal laws that protect Americans’ voting rights and guard against dilution by illegal voting, discrimination, fraud, and other forms of malfeasance and error. Yet the United States has not adequately enforced Federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote."

The executive order includes the requirement that only U.S. citizens vote in federal elections, offers assistance to states on maintaining voter rolls, and makes improvements in the Election Assistance Commission. Trump also ordered the attorney general to prosecute election crimes, take action against states that accept absentee ballots for federal elections after Election Day, and ensure that foreign nationals do not donate to federal elections or that organizations that receive federal funds do not engage in lobbying.

The order also mentions the rescinding of "Bidenbucks" -- which is when the federal government engaged in get-out-the-vote efforts under the Biden administration -- and tells federal agencies to report in 90 days about how they have complied with it.

House Administration Committee Chairman Bryan Steil, R-Wis., praised Trump's executive order on Tuesday.

"President Trump’s Executive Order is a welcome action to secure our elections and prevent foreign influence," Steil said in a statement. "As Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, my priority has been increasing Americans' confidence in our elections. I look forward to working with President Trump on this critical issue to advance common sense election integrity measures in Congress."

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger (R) also responded with support for the election integrity executive order.

"Thank you, President Trump, for this executive order ensuring that only American citizens decide American elections," Raffensperger said in a statement on Tuesday. "This is a great first step for election integrity reform nationwide. I am the first Secretary to conduct a full citizenship check audit of our voter rolls, and then do it again. I strongly believe that only American citizens should be voting in our elections, and I’m pleased to see that other states will follow Georgia’s lead."