* Click here for the EO. From the Washington Post…
President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requiring people to provide documents proving they are citizens when they register to vote, a mandate that experts said could prevent millions of Americans from voting.
The order reflects Trump’s long-standing fixation on election administration as well as his baseless claims following the 2016 and 2020 presidential races that both were riddled with fraud, particularly illegal voting by noncitizens. There is no evidence that widespread corruption, by noncitizens or others, tainted either contest.
Republicans in dozens of states have sought for decades to require voters to present identification to cast ballots, but Trump has taken that effort to a new level with an executive order establishing a federal mandate to provide proof of citizenship to register to vote.
The U.S. Constitution designates the power to regulate the “time, place and manner” of elections to the states, with the proviso that Congress can step in and override those laws. It gives no specific power to the president to do so. Election experts said that Trump was claiming power he does not have and that lawsuits over the measure were all but guaranteed. […]
Others suggested that the order reflects Trump’s desire to expand executive power — and for the Supreme Court to allow it. His order directs the Election Assistance Commission — an agency governed by statute enacted by Congress — to change the federal voter registration form to require government-issued documentary proof of citizenship.
Lots of his EOs are essentially performative.
* Gov. Pritzker press release…
Today, Governor JB Pritzker released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s executive order to attack free and fair elections in the United States:
“Voting is a fundamental right and sacred responsibility of every American. Yet, once again Donald Trump is ignoring the rule of law and circumventing Congress.
“We need to call this what it is: another illegal, extreme, and dangerous attempt to take power away from the American people and hand it over the wealthiest man in the world, Elon Musk, who wishes to decide which U.S. citizens can and can’t vote.
“We will not blindly follow illegal orders because Donald Trump wrote them down on a piece of paper. Illinois follows the laws of the land – not the decrees of an aspiring king hell bent on disenfranchising millions of voters who deserve to have their voice heard.
“In the face of these attacks on voting rights, Illinois will continue to administer free and fair elections while standing up for strong, secure, and accessible democracy.”
…Adding… Rep. West…
State Rep. Maurice West (D-Rockford), Assistant Majority Leader and Chair of the Illinois House Ethics and Elections Committee, released the following statement responding to Donald Trump’s latest attack on Illinois’ electoral process:
“Illinois elections are secure, accessible, and fair. In recent years, the Illinois General Assembly has worked collaboratively with the Illinois State Board of Elections and local election authorities to enact legislative solutions with the goal of promoting civic engagement and ensuring all voters can cast their ballots in a safe, convenient manner.
“When Illinoisans go to the polls, they must have confidence that their vote will be counted quickly and accurately. Instead of engaging Congress or working with the states, Donald Trump is attempting to hand down illegal orders to interfere with our electoral process and potentially disenfranchise millions of people. This new effort comes after years of promoting bizarre, false election conspiracy theories, eroding trust in our democracy and its civic institutions.
“I look forward to working collaboratively with my colleagues to continue to strengthen our electoral system and ensure our votes are free from illegal interference by any outside actor – including the president. Illinois will follow the law, not Donald Trump’s whims.”
- Socially DIstant Watcher - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 8:59 am:
This has nothing to do with the substance of the EO and everything to do with the legality of the EO. Voting is governed by state constitutional provisions, state laws and local practices, as well as federal statutes and case law. The president cannot change that with one signature on a declaration.
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:08 am:
It is absolutely true in my opinion that much of what Trump does is performative and illegal. But I don’t know what is worse, is he doing it because he truly believes it is legal or is he doing it knowing it is unconstitutional and illegal.
Either way it is scary
- Norseman - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:17 am:
Raoul is probably working with the group to file another lawsuit against this illegal order. Go get ‘em JB and Raoul.
- TN - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:18 am:
Was JB’s statement released by his campaign apparatus or his state communications staff?
- ItsMillerTime - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:20 am:
@Socially DIstant Watcher
And Republicans were saying the exact thing during the Biden years when the Dems were trying to make voting easier the much more legal way of passing legislation. But calling them hypocrites is a waste of time because they don’t actually believe the arguments they are presenting, its just a lie to hide the real reason which is always “we want more power”.
Oh and for the people who will come here saying this is a good thing and JB just wants “illegals to vote”. Pretend that Trumps EO said you had to present your birth certificate before owning a gun. you would never support that so why is it alright for him restrict other constitutional rights.
- Confused - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:42 am:
I don’t understand all the hoopla. I have to show an ID here in Illinois to buy cough syrup. Voting is a little more important. I’m to the point that I trust no politician. Why can’t we show a little proof and shut all these politicians up?
- Excitable Boy - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 9:44 am:
- . I have to show an ID here in Illinois to buy cough syrup -
And you have to show ID to register to vote, which is what this EO is about. Try reading before posting.
- Demoralized - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 10:12 am:
==Why can’t we show a little proof==
You already do to register. You’ve bought into the fake fraud arguments. Voting is a right. It should be as easy as possible.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 10:26 am:
== And you have to show ID to register to vote ==
Not totally true. Under the Motor Voter Act, the DMV just asks you to sign an affidavit attesting you are a US citizen; you don’t have to show any documents to prove it. In theory, when the DMV notified the county clerk, they are supposed to cross-check.
Now if you are applying for a RealID, that process does require documents similar to what is required for either a passport or registration at the county clerks office, so if you qualify for RealID it’s highly likely you are a citizen or legal resident.
- twowaystreet - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 10:37 am:
==I have to show an ID here in Illinois to buy cough syrup. ==
Well I guess Walgreens could require you to prove age/residency ahead of time to save you the time of pulling out your ID at the counter.
- Levois - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 10:50 am:
While I generally agree with the idea of having an ID to vote or even that only citizens should vote, what documentation do we need to prove that we’re citizens?
- Amalia - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 10:56 am:
Yeah dear leader is performing once again. But I’ve never had big problems with showing information to vote. the Dems have plenty of money. xyz person can’t get a state ID. well, help them to get that. bus people to get ids, register, etc. it’s useful for other things. We Dems are supposed to problem solve. look at IDs from another perspective-people need identification (I type as that new ID deadline looms)
- CDC - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 11:43 am:
Ok, Now do that with FOID cards.
- Pot calling kettle - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 11:53 am:
==what documentation do we need to prove that we’re citizens?==
That’s an excellent question. A previous Trump EO removed birthright citizenship, so your birth certificate will be no help. And, that birth certificate is what you used for your passport and/or “real ID;” so, I guess those are no good either.
- BE - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 11:56 am:
The EO also states that DOGE will be in charge of the voting rolls.
This is doing the same thing as the SAVE Act, but the Congresspeople won’t have to put their name down as to voting for it.
According to this EO, you would need a passport or a RealID. RealIDs are a lot more expensive and time consuming to get, especially if you have changed your name, like, for instance, most married women.
(The GOP insists on ‘tradition’ and women being under men and thus should take their husband’s last name and then makes it so if you changed your name, you face more hurdles to be allowed to vote, such a shocker.)
- Concerned Observer - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 12:15 pm:
Kind of off-topic, but I voted early yesterday (I’ll be out of town, not that it matters). I asked the lady behind the counter if it’d make things easier to give her my drivers’ license, and she said “I thi k everyone should have to, don’t you?” And…
1) no, but
2) should you really say that when you’re literally in the process of overseeing an election?
- Ucci - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 12:19 pm:
=xyz person can’t get a state ID. well, help them to get that. bus people to get ids, register, etc. it’s useful for other things.=
It’s hard enough to get people to vote, election turnout is abysmal. Add another layer of complexity (another step) and you lower turnout. THATS the whole point of this. Voter disenfranchisement. Voter fraud is virtually non-existent, you are creating barriers to lower the number of people who actually vote.
- 47th Ward - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 12:23 pm:
===what documentation do we need to prove that we’re citizens?===
I’m sure the Trump team will let us know which Americans are worthy of voting and which are not. Be patient.
The Federalist Society is hoping to get a case before SCOTUS in order to revert to the actual meaning espoused by the Founding Fathers: only white men who own property are considered eligible voters. They already have 5-6 votes for that, so it’s only a matter of time and finding the right case.
- Mason County - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 12:40 pm:
=what documentation do we need to prove that we’re citizens?=
That is the key question. The best I could find was from NPR which stated the Trump EO: The order only lists a limited number of ways to prove U.S. citizenship. The options given are a U.S. passport, an ID that complies with the REAL ID Act that shows citizenship or a military ID that shows citizenship. A fourth option is a valid government photo ID that “indicates that the applicant is a United States citizen or if such identification is otherwise accompanied by proof of United States citizenship,” but does not say if a birth certificate would count.
Whether this is an exhaustive list I do not know and whether Trump has this power seems like another case for SCOTUS. (They are going to be very, very busy.)
- DuPage Saint - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 12:47 pm:
I was hoping to see a snark after 47th Ward comments. But i would hope the 15th and 19th Amendments might stop a reverting to only white property owners can vote.
- BE - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 1:17 pm:
=But i would hope the 15th and 19th Amendments might stop a reverting to only white property owners can vote.=
Oh, numerous GOP have already said that they want to get rid of the 19th Amendment. Our fluffy pink brains can’t make our own medical decisions, why let us vote? (sarcasm)
- Teacher Lady - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 2:19 pm:
I am a deputy registrar. I register voters. TWO forms of ID are required to register to vote.
Those who register using the “motor voter” forms will have their registration flagged that they must show the election judge their two forms of ID, as will those who register online via the Illinois Board of Elections website.
- Anonymous - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 4:47 pm:
==
Those who register using the “motor voter” forms will have their registration flagged that they must show the election judge their two forms of ID, as will those who register online via the Illinois Board of Elections website.==
Haha, you’re funny. This may be the way it is supposed to work, but I registered at the DMV and when I voted was not asked to provide ID.
- RNUG - Wednesday, Mar 26, 25 @ 10:46 pm:
== I asked the lady behind the counter if it’d make things easier … ==
I serve as an Election Judge. While the voter does not have to show their county issued voter id card, as lot of people do. It makes the lookup process go a bit faster … especially when there are multiple precincts in one polling location and the voter is unsure which precinct they live in.