Trump Executive Order Says States Must Use Voting Machines That Don’t Actually Exist
SlateMAR 21
Judge Blocks Trump's Voter Registration Citizenship Mandate
Above: People participate in a protest against the Trump administration's mass firing of government workers and civil servants in front of the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Presidents' Day, Feb. 17, 2025. Image copyright: Dominic Gwinn/Contributor/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Images
The Spin
Democratic narrative
This ruling is correct, as Trump's voter ID order was blatantly unconstitutional. The Constitution's elections clause explicitly grants states, not the president, authority over elections. Trump's draconian mandate for proof of citizenship and other restrictive measures is a grotesque overreach of executive power, designed to disenfranchise millions with burdensome, costly requirements. Voter fraud is vanishingly rare, yet Trump peddles baseless conspiracies to justify suppressing votes.
Republican narrative
Trump's order was essential to fortify modern American elections. Requiring ID, as we do for banking or travel, ensures only eligible citizens vote, rebuilding trust shattered by fraud concerns, which are not unfounded, showcased by Michigan's 2020 duplicate ballot glitch. Without reform, corrupt judges blocking change will let it worsen. Accessible IDs and digital verification can remove barriers while securing elections against manipulation, including foreign interference.