Certain groups of people in the US may find it harder to vote in elections as a result of Donald Trump’s newest executive order, and this is why.
The president, who was sworn in for his second term of presidency in January, signed the order on Tuesday (25 March) which calls for federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute election crimes.
The new executive order means voters will be required to provide proof of citizenship in order to vote in federal elections, and all ballots must be received by election day. States could have their federal funding slashed if they fail to comply with the new executive order.
Proof from voters would include forms of ID, such as a driver's licenses, birth certificates, passport. State and local officials must also be able to verify that the information is correct.
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However, the executive order has raised concerns that it could impact married women who have changed their names, because their maiden names will be listed on their birth certificates.
As of 2022, around 68.45 million women in the United States are married, Statista shows.
As per the new order, all ballots must be received by Election Day.
"Above all, elections must be honest and worthy of public trust," the order states. "That requires voting methods that produce a voter-verifiable paper record allowing voters to efficiently check their votes to protect against fraud or mistake."
But the order will probably face challenges, like many other executive orders from Trump, because of the broad voter protection laws states have.
You may recall Trump being a very vocal disbeliever of the results of the 2020 presidential elections, which saw Democratic candidate Joe Biden be voted in. He has also spoken out against mail voting and voting machines in the past.
Among the executive orders that Trump has so far signed, notable ones include him withdrawing the US from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The organisation responded to the announcement, adding that they hope the US will 'reconsider' and they 'look forward to engaging in constructive dialogue to maintain the partnership between the USA and WHO, for the benefit of the health and well-being of millions of people around the globe'.
The Gulf of Mexico has been renamed the Gulf of America, and Denali - which is the highest peak in North America - will revert to Mount McKinley.
An executive order also established the Department of Government Efficiency, which is led by Elon Musk, as well as Trump signing an order to end diversity programs.
You can read more about Trump’s executive orders here.
Topics: Donald Trump, Politics, US News
Gregory Robinson