— President Donald Trump said late Saturday on Truth Social that he will sign an executive order requiring voter identification for all U.S. elections, while pressing to sharply restrict mail-in voting and move to paper ballots. The pledge is expected to trigger swift legal challenges because states — and, in many cases, Congress — set election rules, not the president.
Key Takeaways
- Trump vowed an executive order mandating voter ID in every U.S. election.
- He reiterated plans to limit mail-in voting largely to the seriously ill and certain military voters and to oppose voting machines in favor of paper ballots.
- The U.S. Constitution assigns primary authority over election administration to the states, with Congress able to override state rules by law.
- Any White House order on elections would likely face immediate lawsuits from states and civil rights groups.
- Earlier in August, Trump said lawyers were drafting an order to end all mail-in ballots for the 2026 midterms.
- A separate March 2025 order requiring government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections was mostly blocked by a federal judge in June.
- The midterm elections are scheduled for November 2026.
Verified Facts
In a late-night post on Truth Social, Trump said voter ID should apply to “every single vote” and that he intends to accomplish that via executive order. He did not release draft text or implementation details.
The president also restated long-standing positions to sharply restrict mail-in voting — carving out exceptions for voters who are gravely ill or deployed far from home — and to replace voting machines with paper ballots where possible.
The Constitution provides no explicit presidential power to regulate elections. States set rules for administering elections and combating fraud, and Congress can alter certain rules by statute, particularly for federal contests. As a result, any executive order attempting to impose nationwide voter ID or mail-voting limits would face immediate and significant legal scrutiny.
In March 2025, Trump signed an order seeking to require government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections. States quickly sued, and in June Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts blocked most of the order, finding the challengers were likely to prove the president exceeded his authority and that the policy risked disenfranchising eligible voters.
Earlier this month, Trump said a legal team was preparing an order aimed at ending mail-in ballots ahead of the November 2026 midterms, touting it as a measure to bring greater “honesty” to the elections.
Context & Impact
A nationwide voter ID mandate by executive order would collide with the federalist structure that leaves election administration to the states. Many states already require some form of voter identification, while others rely on signature verification or sworn statements — a patchwork that reflects differing state policy choices.
Implementing a uniform ID regime without congressional action could burden local election offices and invite confusion for voters, especially if court challenges lead to rapidly changing rules close to voting deadlines. Any attempt to restrict mail voting or ban machines would raise practical and legal questions about accessibility, disability accommodations, military and overseas voting, and ballot counting capacity.
Politically, the move underscores Trump’s broader push to reshape election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterms, a strategy that energizes supporters who favor stricter rules but alarms voting-rights advocates who warn of potential disenfranchisement.
Timeline of Recent Actions
| Date | Action |
|---|---|
| Mar. 2025 | Executive order issued to require government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections. |
| June 2025 | Federal judge blocks most of the March order, citing likely overreach and disenfranchisement risks. |
| Early Aug. 2025 | Trump says lawyers are preparing an order to end mail-in ballots for the 2026 midterms. |
| Aug. 31, 2025 | Trump says he will sign an order mandating voter ID nationwide and reiterates opposition to voting machines. |
Official Statements
Voter ID must be part of every single vote, with no exceptions, and I will use an executive order to achieve it.
Donald Trump, on Truth Social
The Constitution does not grant the president specific powers over elections.
Judge Denise J. Casper, U.S. District Court (D. Mass.)
Unconfirmed
- The draft text of the voter ID executive order and its legal basis.
- Whether the order would target federal elections only or attempt to reach state and local contests.
- What forms of identification would be deemed acceptable and how exceptions would be handled.
- Implementation timelines and whether any requirements would apply before the 2026 midterms.
- How a paper-ballots-only policy would be enforced where state law permits certified voting machines.
Bottom Line
Trump’s vow to mandate voter ID and curb mail voting by executive order sets up a fast-moving legal clash over presidential power and state control of elections. With 2026 midterms on the horizon, any court fight could shape how — and how easily — millions of Americans cast their ballots.