• President Trump signs executive order requiring documentary proof of citizenship for mail voter registration
  • White House gains effective veto power over Federal Election Commission regulations through OMB review
  • Orders mark significant shift in federal election oversight, drawing immediate legal and political challenges

New Voter Registration Requirements

The White House has issued Executive Order 14248, mandating that the Election Assistance Commission require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for national mail voter registration forms. The March 25 order represents one of the most substantial changes to federal voter registration procedures in recent years.

According to people familiar with the matter, the administration moved quickly to implement the changes ahead of the 2026 election cycle. The order also directs the Department of Homeland Security to provide the Attorney General with lists of foreign nationals who indicated on immigration forms that they registered or voted in any election.

Expanding Executive Control

In a separate but related move, a February 18 executive order shifts how the Federal Election Commission operates by requiring the FEC's significant regulatory actions to be reviewed by the Office of Management and Budget. This grants the White House an effective veto over such regulations, fundamentally altering the commission's traditional independence.

"This represents a major change in the federal approach to election integrity," said one administration official who asked not to be identified discussing internal deliberations. The official noted that the moves are designed to create "greater consistency" in election administration across federal agencies.

Legal and Political Fallout

Civil rights groups are already preparing legal challenges to both orders. The Brennan Center and other advocacy organizations argue the measures risk "illegally overhauling and taking control" of the nation's election systems. Multiple state attorneys general from Democratic-led states are expected to file suits in the coming weeks.

Supporters of the orders counter that they're necessary to prevent unlawful voting and strengthen election security. "For too long, our election systems have operated without proper oversight," said a spokesperson for a conservative legal group that has been consulting with the administration.

The Justice Department has been instructed to prioritize enforcement of laws barring noncitizens from voting and to coordinate with state attorneys general for prosecutions. This could lead to increased enforcement actions in the months ahead.

Efforts to reach spokespeople at both the EAC and FEC for comment were not immediately successful Thursday afternoon. White House officials have declined to specify when the new registration requirements will take effect, though implementation is expected to begin within the next 90 days.

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the number of executive orders involved. There are two separate orders affecting different agencies.