President Donald Trump is reportedly contemplating a significant executive order that seeks to alter the way American elections are conducted. A 17-page draft order is currently circulating among Trump's inner circle, with claims of China's interference in the 2020 presidential election as its basis. If enacted, this order could declare a national emergency, thereby granting the President expansive authority over election protocols throughout the United States.
The President has previously hinted at plans to introduce voter ID requirements and restrict mail-in ballots before the upcoming midterm elections. Advocates for the draft executive order anticipate that it will play a central role in Trump's promised executive actions concerning election policy. However, the White House has refrained from providing detailed comments on the President's specific intentions.
Peter Ticktin, a Florida attorney and proponent of the draft order, has recognized the constitutional challenges that such a proposal would face. The U.S. Constitution delegates the management of state elections to individual legislatures, which would typically place such actions outside presidential purview. Yet, Ticktin asserts that the allegation of foreign interference creates a unique situation that justifies a national emergency, potentially allowing the President to circumvent standard protocols.
Despite a 2021 intelligence review which found that China did not execute plans to influence the 2020 election, the concern over foreign interference persists. Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard is leading a current review into election security, with a focus on foreign influence operations.
Ticktin, who has previously represented individuals in legal actions supportive of Trump, claimed to have coordinated with unnamed White House officials, citing concerns for safety as the reason for not disclosing identities. A White House official confirmed that staff members routinely engage with external advocates to consider policy suggestions, while also noting that any speculation regarding forthcoming presidential actions is conjectural at this stage.
Amidst this backdrop, President Trump has made social media statements affirming his determination to implement Voter ID for the midterm elections, irrespective of congressional approval. He is concurrently advocating for Congress to pass the Save America Act, which stipulates proof of citizenship for voter registration and photo identification for voting. While the bill has succeeded in the House, it faces opposition in the Senate, leading Trump to suggest the possibility of unilateral action to impose these changes before the midterms.
White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson underscored the President's commitment to secure and error-free voter rolls, emphasizing the need for uniform photo ID requirements and the elimination of no-excuse mail-in voting and ballot harvesting. Trump has made it clear that should the Save America Act fail to pass, he is prepared to take independent action to ensure the proposed electoral reforms are in place for the upcoming elections.
