President Donald Trump has announced plans to issue an executive order requiring voter identification for every ballot cast in federal elections, stating, “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!” on Truth Social. The proposal also includes a ban on mail-in voting, with limited exceptions for individuals who are “very ill” or stationed overseas in the military, emphasizing, “USE PAPER BALLOTS ONLY!!!”

The move follows Trump’s earlier August pledge to eliminate mail-in ballots and voting machines ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. However, federal elections are managed at the state level, raising questions about the constitutional authority of a presidential executive order to enforce such changes.

Trump’s latest plan extends his broader efforts to overhaul election procedures, building on a March executive action that required proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and mandated all ballots be received by Election Day. The new voter ID proposal would add another layer of requirements, potentially impacting millions of Americans in states where voting without photo identification is currently permitted.

The announcement suggests Trump is bypassing congressional Republicans to implement his agenda, as the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act (SAVE Act) remains pending in Congress. The 2026 elections will mark the first nationwide referendum on Trump’s policies since his return to power in January 2025, with Democrats aiming to challenge Republican control of the House and Senate.