Key facts
- President Trump ordered federal agencies to address election integrity.
- He directed the FBI and DOJ to prosecute those responsible for fraudulent voter registration.
President Donald Trump has directed federal agencies to address election integrity, including prosecuting those responsible for fraudulent voter registration and identifying noncitizens on voter rolls. He also ordered efforts to patch cybersecurity vulnerabilities in voting infrastructure.
The actions signal a continued focus on election integrity by the Trump administration, potentially influencing future electoral processes and public trust in voting systems, while also drawing scrutiny from election officials regarding the accuracy of the data used.
President Donald Trump has initiated several measures aimed at bolstering election integrity, including directives to federal agencies to address voter roll inaccuracies and cybersecurity vulnerabilities. These efforts follow an investigation into irregularities in voter registration applications in Muskegon, Michigan, in October 2020. Trump has requested that the FBI and Department of Justice prosecute individuals deemed responsible for any crimes related to these issues.
Furthermore, Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to identify noncitizens registered to vote and subsequently direct states to remove them. A DHS review reportedly identified approximately 278,000 noncitizens registered to vote across four states. However, state election officials have expressed skepticism regarding the methods used by DHS, suggesting the numbers may be an overcount.
In parallel, Trump announced that DHS would collaborate with state and local governments to identify and fix cybersecurity weaknesses in voting infrastructure. The administration is also informing governors and members of Congress about these potential issues. Trump characterized these executive actions as supplementary to legislative efforts, such as the SAVE America Act, which has faced challenges in Congress.