Trump Targets Voting Process & Birthright Citizenship Before Midterms

Former President Trump signed an executive order with the primary goal of creating a federal list of citizens and asking the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to send mail ballots only to those on the list. According to this order, the Department of Homeland Security would be asked to create "state citizenship lists" from federal citizenship and naturalization records, Social Security records, and other federal databases. These lists would then be sent to states so that they could be verified against state voter rolls. Finally, USPS would be asked to send ballots only to those on the list. This executive order is the second one related to elections since Trump took office.

Election experts, such as David Becker, founder of the nonpartisan Center for Election Innovation & Research, anticipate that the order will be blocked by the federal courts before the ink is dry. Becker argues that the Constitution clearly gives the power to regulate issues related to mail ballots to the states. Furthermore, he points out that the framers of the Constitution excluded the president from dictating election policy to the states. The executive order faces criticism for encroaching on the authority of states in election administration.

The order's legality is questionable, and it is expected to face significant legal challenges.

Trump defended the executive order, stating that it will help a lot with elections and reiterated his desire to have voter ID and proof of citizenship. The former president added that he believes obtaining these measures should be easy. However, this stance contrasts with the opinion of election experts and faces the likely opposition of federal courts. Trump has long maintained that the 2020 election was fraudulent, despite multiple refutations.

His continued focus on election integrity remains a key part of his political agenda.

In addition to signing the executive order, Trump announced his intention to attend the Supreme Court oral arguments on a case that could end birthright citizenship in the United States. Trump told reporters that he will attend because he has listened to this argument for so long. Supreme Court justices will hear arguments on the constitutionality of an executive order Trump signed in January 2025, seeking to limit birthright citizenship only to people who have at least one parent who is an American citizen or a legal permanent resident. Trump’s decision to attend the oral arguments is historic, as no previous president has done so.

Trump’s attendance at the oral arguments is particularly noteworthy given that he had attacked the justices weeks earlier after the Supreme Court rejected his tariffs. This context adds an element of controversy to his decision to participate in the arguments. Trump's stance on birthright citizenship has been a recurring theme in his political discourse, and his involvement in this case underscores his commitment to the issue.

His presence at the Supreme Court is expected to draw significant media attention.