Fresh Air A look at Trump's plans to restrict voting
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Mar 3, 2026 Richard Hasen, UCLA law and political science professor who directs the Safeguarding Democracy Project, breaks down proposed limits on mail-in ballots and the SAVE Act. He explains claims about foreign interference, draft provisions for proof-of-citizenship, risks of federalizing elections, and how restrictive rules could disenfranchise voters and reshape democratic safeguards.
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Draft Order Would Force Documentary Proof To Register
- The draft executive order proposes a federal takeover of voter registration, requiring documentary proof of citizenship and eliminating most registration methods like online registration.
- Richard Hasen says this would force everyone to re-register with passports or birth certificates, impose matching to federal databases, and is unrealistic to implement by 2026.
President Lacks Constitutional Power To Unilaterally Remake Elections
- The Constitution gives Congress power over federal election time, place, and manner, not the president, so a presidential executive order attempting to reshape elections likely exceeds constitutional authority.
- Hasen notes courts have already issued injunctions against Trump's earlier August executive order and a federal judge permanently blocked parts of it in February.
Federal Seizures Can Nullify Election Results
- Federal interventions meant to 'protect' integrity can instead break elections by seizing ballots or machines and disrupting chain of custody.
- Hasen warns FBI seizures (e.g., Fulton County) or search warrants during unresolved contests could nullify results and create chaos.
