Trump Vows Executive Order on Voter ID, Sparking Constitutional Clash

President Donald Trump announced he will issue an executive order mandating voter identification for all U.S. elections, a move likely to ignite legal challenges over its constitutionality.

“Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social late Saturday. He also pledged to ban nearly all mail-in voting, allowing it only for military personnel and those who are seriously ill.

The U.S. Constitution assigns states primary authority over elections, with Congress holding limited oversight powers. It does not grant the president the power to unilaterally regulate voting procedures. Experts say Trump’s plan faces near-certain court battles and could be struck down as federal overreach.

Trump’s push comes from his baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. He recently asserted that the U.S. is the only country with mail-in voting, a statement contradicted by dozens of nations that allow some form of absentee or postal ballots. Ironically, Trump himself has voted by mail in past elections.

In 2024, 14 states and Washington, D.C. reported more than 30% of ballots cast by mail. Trump won half of those states, including Utah—where mail-in voting exceeded 91% under Republican election officials.

Currently, 36 states require or request some form of voter ID at the polls. The rest, along with D.C., rely on signature matching or other verification methods. Voter fraud in the U.S. remains extremely rare, but research shows strict voter ID laws disproportionately affect minorities, seniors, students, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities. The Brennan Center for Justice estimates that 11% of eligible voters lack the type of ID required under strict laws.

Earlier this summer, a federal judge blocked Trump’s attempt to impose proof-of-citizenship voting rules, warning it could disenfranchise millions. Many Americans do not have ready access to passports, birth certificates, or updated documents reflecting name changes after marriage. Roughly 146 million U.S. citizens lack a passport.

If enforced, Trump’s executive order could impact tens of millions of voters—particularly first-time registrants or those updating their information—raising profound questions about voting rights and election access heading into the next election cycle.