CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Election officials from state and local governments across the U.S. gathered on Thursday to raise concerns and questions about a federal agency’s role in implementing President Donald Trump’s election overhaul executive order. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission, tasked with updating the national voter registration form and voting system guidelines, faces scrutiny over its ability to fulfill Trump’s directives, which include adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the registration form and withholding federal funds from states accepting late ballots.
A federal judge issued a preliminary injunction blocking the proof-of-citizenship requirement, pending legal challenges to Trump’s executive order. The EAC’s Standards Board, made up of bipartisan election officials from every state, met in North Carolina to discuss the implications of Trump’s directive on election administration and voting procedures.
During the meeting, election officials expressed concerns about the impact of the executive order, with specific queries on its effects on Native American communities, voting machine compliance, and potential disruptions to election systems. The EAC commissioners assured the officials that their concerns will be considered and encouraged continued feedback.
Opponents of the executive order, including voting rights groups and Democratic officials, have filed lawsuits arguing that Trump is overstepping his authority and infringing on states’ rights to set election rules. The EAC has reached out to state election officials for input on implementing the proof-of-citizenship requirement on the national voter registration form.
Established after the disputed 2000 presidential election, the Election Assistance Commission’s role includes distributing federal funds for voting equipment, creating voting system guidelines, and overseeing the national voter registration form process. Trump’s directive to add a citizenship requirement to the form has raised concerns about potential voter disenfranchisement for those lacking the necessary documentation.
States relying on mail-in ballots, like Oregon and Washington, have raised objections to Trump’s order, fearing disruptions to their election processes. The legal battles surrounding the executive order are ongoing, with questions over the president’s authority to dictate election procedures still left unresolved. The EAC continues to navigate the challenges posed by Trump’s directive, seeking to balance federal requirements with state autonomy in the electoral process.