US President Donald Trump announced on August 30, 2025, his plan to sign an executive order requiring voter identification for every vote in upcoming elections — with no exceptions. Making the declaration on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared, “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!”
Alongside the voter ID mandate, Trump also called for an end to mail-in voting except for “those that are very ill, and the far away military.” He urged the use of paper ballots exclusively. This latest move is a continuation of his broader effort to overhaul the US electoral system, which he has long criticized and claims to be fraught with fraud, allegations widely disputed by election experts.
Currently, 36 states require some form of voter ID, but no uniform federal voter ID law exists. This executive order, if enacted, would impose a nationwide voter ID requirement that could override the varied state laws—though experts note the constitutionality of such a federal mandate is questionable, as election laws are primarily state-governed.
Trump’s announcement follows his earlier 2025 executive actions requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, adding a new layer of election reforms ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The executive order faces anticipated legal challenges, given the constitutional limits on presidential authority in election regulation.
Support for voter ID remains strong among Americans, with polls showing broad bipartisan backing for such measures. However, critics warn that strict voter ID laws may disenfranchise vulnerable groups while legal disputes about the scope of presidential power in election oversight continue.