Donald Trump’s BIG Move To Overhaul US Elections, Lauds India’s Voting System

Washington DC: United States President on Tuesday signed an executive order aimed at seeking broad changes to elections in the country, including documentary proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections, and count only mail or absentee ballots received by Election Day. The order also prohibits non-US citizens from being able to donate in certain elections.

Citing India, Brazil, and other countries’ election processes, the order says that the US fails to “enforce basic and necessary election protections.”

“Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing. India and Brazil, for example, are tying voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States largely relies on self-attestation for citizenship.,” the order read.

“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,” it added.

“Further, while countries like Denmark and Sweden sensibly limit mail-in voting to those unable to vote in person and do not count late-arriving votes regardless of the date of postmark, many American elections now feature mass voting by mail, with many officials accepting ballots without postmarks or those received well after Election Day.,” the order highlighted.

Trump said that free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. “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,” the US President said in the order.

“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,” the order further added.

Highlights Of Trump’s Executive Order:

Mandatory Proof Of US Citizenship:

The order seeks amendment in the voter registration form so that voters can provide documentary proof of citizenship. These documents include, US passport, birth certificate.

Foreigners Banned From Making Donations:

The order says that donations from foreigners “undermines” the voting process. “Federal law, 52 U.S.C. 30121, prohibits foreign nationals from participating in Federal, State, or local elections by making any contributions or expenditures. But foreign nationals and non-governmental organizations have taken advantage of loopholes in the law’s interpretation, spending millions of dollars through conduit contributions and ballot-initiative-related expenditures. This type of foreign interference in our election process undermines the franchise and the right of American citizens to govern their Republic,” the order read.

Questioned QR Codes On Ballots:

“The Election Assistance Commission shall initiate appropriate action to amend the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and issue other appropriate guidance establishing standards for voting systems to protect election integrity,” the order stated.

“The amended guidelines and other guidance shall provide that voting systems should not use a ballot in which a vote is contained within a barcode or quick-response code in the vote counting process except where necessary to accommodate individuals with disabilities and should provide a voter-verifiable paper record to prevent fraud or mistake,” it added.

Mail Ballots By Election Day:

As per the order, all mail ballots be received by the Election Day. “Consistent with 52 U.S.C. 21001(b) and other applicable law, the Election Assistance Commission shall condition any available funding to a State on that State’s compliance with the requirement in 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6) that each State adopt uniform and nondiscriminatory standards within that State that define what constitutes a vote and what will be counted as a vote, including that, as prescribed in 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1, there be a uniform and nondiscriminatory ballot receipt deadline of Election Day for all methods of voting, excluding ballots cast in accordance with 52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq., after which no additional votes may be cast,” the order stated.

Notably, Trump has always questioned certain voting processes since 2020, when he lost the Presidential polls to Democrat Joe Biden.