Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Protects the Integrity of American Elections

March 25, 2025

Fact Sheets

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Action Summary

Purpose: Protect the integrity of American elections by strengthening voter citizenship verification and preventing foreign interference.
Voter Verification: Election Assistance Commission to require documentary, government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms; DHS, Social Security Administration, and Department of State to provide states access to federal databases for eligibility checks.
Enforcement Actions: Attorney General to prioritize prosecuting non-citizen voting and related crimes using DHS records and coordination with state attorneys general; implement strict voter-list maintenance and enforce single Election Day deadlines.
Funding Conditions: Federal election funds conditioned on states’ compliance with integrity measures, including the use of a national mail voter registration form with citizenship proof, and penalties for late ballot counting.
Voting System Security: Update Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards; require voter-verifiable paper ballots and eliminate ballots that solely use barcodes or QR codes.
Interagency Coordination: Establish information-sharing agreements between the Attorney General and state election officials to identify electoral fraud; enforce compliance with potential funding withdrawal for non-compliant states.
Foreign and Non-Citizen Involvement: Prohibit non-citizens from administering elections and restrict foreign nationals from contributing or interfering in U.S. elections.
Policy Reversal and Oversight: Mandate reporting on undoing policies from Biden Executive Order 14019 that influenced federal agency roles in voter turnout; reassert commitment to free, fair, and honest elections.
Context and Rationale: Emphasize that robust election protections, similar to measures in countries like India, Brazil, Germany, Canada, Denmark, and Sweden, are essential to prevent fraud, errors, and discrimination.

Risks & Considerations

The Executive Order’s emphasis on voter citizenship verification and banning foreign interference in elections could lead to increased scrutiny and regulatory compliance requirements for institutions involved in voter registration and election-related activities.
Vanderbilt University may need to assess its involvement in civic engagement initiatives, particularly those related to voter registration drives, to ensure compliance with the new federal requirements for proof of citizenship.
The focus on updating voting system guidelines and security standards may necessitate changes in how election-related research and technology development are conducted, potentially impacting collaborations with federal agencies and other institutions.
There is a risk that the stringent enforcement of election integrity laws could lead to legal challenges or disputes, which may affect the university’s community engagement efforts and partnerships with local and state governments.
The potential loss of federal funding for non-compliant states could have indirect financial implications for Vanderbilt, particularly if state budgets are affected and result in reduced funding for higher education.

Impacted Programs

Vanderbilt’s Political Science Department may see increased demand for expertise in election law and policy analysis, providing opportunities for research and public policy engagement.
The Office of Community Engagement might need to reevaluate its voter registration and civic engagement initiatives to align with the new federal requirements and ensure compliance.
Vanderbilt’s Law School could play a crucial role in analyzing the legal implications of the Executive Order and advising on compliance strategies for the university and its partners.
The Data Science Institute may find opportunities to contribute to the development of secure voting technologies and systems in collaboration with federal agencies and other research institutions.

Financial Impact

The reallocation of federal election-related funds based on compliance with the Executive Order could impact the availability of grants and funding opportunities for research and development in election security and technology.
Vanderbilt University may need to adjust its funding strategies and partnerships to align with the new federal priorities, potentially affecting research initiatives and collaborations.
There may be increased opportunities for securing funding for projects related to election integrity, voter verification, and security standards, particularly through partnerships with federal agencies and other institutions.
The potential financial impact on state budgets due to non-compliance with federal election laws could indirectly affect funding for higher education, necessitating strategic planning and advocacy efforts by the university.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential legal challenges.)

Key Actions

Vanderbilt’s Political Science Department should conduct research on the implications of strengthened voter citizenship verification and the ban on foreign nationals from interfering in U.S. elections. This research can provide insights into how these changes might affect voter turnout and election integrity.
The Office of Federal Relations should monitor the impact of federal election-related funds being conditioned on states complying with new integrity measures. Understanding these changes will be crucial for assessing potential impacts on state-level election processes and funding.
Vanderbilt’s Law School could explore the legal ramifications of the Executive Order, particularly in relation to the enforcement of voter-list maintenance requirements and the prioritization of prosecuting non-citizen voting. This could lead to opportunities for legal scholarship and public policy advocacy.
The Data Science Institute should evaluate the technological implications of updating the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and security standards for voting equipment. This could involve developing new technologies or methodologies to enhance election security and integrity.

Opportunities

The Executive Order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Center for the Study of Democratic Institutions to engage in public discourse and education on the importance of election integrity and the measures being implemented to safeguard it. This could enhance the university’s role as a thought leader in democratic governance.
Vanderbilt can capitalize on the increased focus on election security by developing partnerships with state and federal agencies to provide expertise and research support. This could include collaborative projects aimed at improving election processes and technologies.
The emphasis on voter-verifiable paper ballot records offers an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s Engineering School to innovate in the design and implementation of secure voting systems. This could lead to advancements in election technology and increased collaboration with government agencies.

Relevance Score: 3 (The order requires some adjustments to processes or procedures, particularly in research, legal analysis, and technological development related to election integrity.)

Average Relevance Score: 3.4

Timeline for Implementation

N/A: The document does not specify any new or distinct timeline for the implementation of the directives, aside from referencing existing Election Day requirements under Federal law.

Relevance Score: 1

Impacted Government Organizations

Election Assistance Commission: Required to update voter registration forms to demand documentary proof of U.S. citizenship, ensuring compliance with the new election integrity measures.
Department of Homeland Security (DHS): Tasked with providing states access to Federal databases for verifying voter eligibility and, along with its Secretary, mandated to prevent non-citizens from participating in election administration.
Social Security Administration (SSA): Must share federal data with states to help verify the citizenship and eligibility of voters during the registration process.
Department of State: Responsible for furnishing states with access to Federal databases as part of the voter citizenship verification process.
Department of Justice (Attorney General): Charged with prioritizing prosecution of non-citizen voting and enforcing a range of voting laws, including entering information-sharing agreements with state election officials and overseeing voter-list maintenance.
All Federal Agencies: Directive requires every Federal agency to report on compliance, particularly in undoing previous executive directives, thereby extending accountability across the entire government.

Relevance Score: 5 (The directive applies broadly across the federal government, impacting all agencies with reporting requirements and specific responsibilities.)

Responsible Officials

Election Assistance Commission – Implements enhanced citizenship verification protocols on voter registration forms.
Department of Homeland Security – Provides states access to federal databases for voter eligibility verification and, along with the Attorney General, prevents non-citizens from involvement in administering elections.
Social Security Administration – Supplies states with access to federal records for verifying voter citizenship.
Department of State – Facilitates access to Federal databases to verify voter eligibility and citizenship.
Attorney General – Prioritizes prosecuting non-citizen voting and related crimes, enforces voter list maintenance requirements, enters information-sharing agreements with state officials, and takes action on ballot compliance.

Relevance Score: 5 (Directives impact Cabinet-level officials and agency heads, notably the Attorney General and Secretary of Homeland Security.)