By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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A map shows where in the country voters are either required or requested to show identification when voting in person.
Why It Matters
President Donald Trump said on Saturday that he will issue an executive order mandating voter identification for all voters nationwide. If implemented, it could affect tens of millions of Americans, particularly those in states that allow people to vote in person without presenting any form of identification.
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However, experts have said such an order would be unconstitutional. The U.S. Constitution gives states the authority to regulate elections but empowers Congress to "at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations."
An executive order Trump signed in March requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections has been blocked by a judge. Last month, Trump also said he would issue an executive order to end the use of mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
Trump has a history of railing against election processes, and has continued to baselessly claim that his 2020 election loss to Democrat Joe Biden was due to widespread fraud.
What To Know
Voters are either required or requested to show some form of identification when voting in person in 36 states, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures.
The remaining 14 states and Washington, D.C. allow people to vote in person without showing any documentation, using other methods to verify the identity of voters such as checking a signature against information on file.
Of the states where voter identification laws are in effect, 23 ask for identification with a photo on it, while 12 states accept documents without photos, such as a bank statement.
States provide alternatives for voters who do not show the ID asked for by law. Some voters without acceptable identification can cast a ballot that will be counted without further action on their part in some states. For instance, they may be allowed to vote without ID after signing an affidavit, or poll workers may be allowed to vouch for voters without an ID.
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What People Are Saying
Trump wrote on Truth Social on Saturday night: "Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!! Also, No Mail-In Voting, Except For Those That Are Very Ill, And The Far Away Military. USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!! President DJT"
The Brennan Center for Justice says on its website: "Overly burdensome photo ID requirements block millions of eligible American citizens from voting. As many as 11 percent of eligible voters do not have the kind of ID that is required by states with strict ID requirements, and that percentage is even higher among seniors, minorities, people with disabilities, low-income voters, and students."
It added that "many citizens find it difficult to obtain government photo IDs because the necessary documentation, such as a birth certificate, is often difficult or expensive to acquire."
What Happens Next
If Trump issues an executive order mandating voter identification, it is sure to face legal challenges.
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