Washington, D.C. — Today, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that attempts to make it much more difficult for millions of eligible citizens to register to vote. Under the executive order, the only acceptable document that reliably proves a holder’s citizenship status is a passport. Yet roughly half of all adult citizens—about 146 million Americans—do not have a passport. In response, Greta Bedekovics, associate director of Democracy Policy at the Center for American Progress, issued the following statement:
This order is yet another unconstitutional abuse of power by the Trump administration, this time attempting to deny the right to vote to tens of millions of eligible American citizens. It would also hold federal election funding hostage if states do not enforce Trump’s draconian voter suppression policies. This order will harm millions of voters—especially rural, low-income, and working-class voters—and make it even harder for eligible citizens to hold election officials, including the president, accountable. The Constitution is clear that only states and Congress have the authority to determine election rules. This order should be challenged in court and promptly struck down.
For more information or to speak with an expert, please contact Sam Hananel at [email protected].