Executive Order

Executive Order 14248 - Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections

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Published

March 25, 2025

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Ingested

June 29, 2026

Summary

Executive Order 14248, issued by the President on March 25, 2025, aims to preserve and protect the integrity of American elections by strengthening federal enforcement of election laws. It mandates documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal mail voter registration, requires federal agencies to assist states in verifying voter eligibility, and directs the Election Assistance Commission to update voting system guidelines for voter-verifiable paper records and condition funding on state compliance with federal election laws, including a strict Election Day ballot receipt deadline. The order also prioritizes Department of Justice enforcement against non-citizen voting and states failing to comply with election integrity requirements.

Key provisions

Executive Order 14248 - Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections (March 25, 2025)

This Executive Order (EO) outlines the administration's policy and directives to enhance election integrity by enforcing existing federal laws, strengthening citizenship verification, improving voter list maintenance, securing voting systems, and prosecuting election crimes. It emphasizes the importance of free, fair, and honest elections, citing international examples and perceived failures in current U.S. election practices.

Section 1. Purpose and Policy

The EO asserts that the U.S. lags behind other developed nations in enforcing basic election protections, such as requiring biometric voter identification, using paper ballots counted publicly, and limiting mail-in voting to specific circumstances.
It highlights the administration's policy to enforce federal statutes (2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1) requiring votes to be cast and received by Election Day, citing Republican National Committee v. Wetzel (2024).
The order identifies failures in enforcing prohibitions against foreign nationals voting (18 U.S.C. 1015, 611) and maintaining accurate voter registration lists as required by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA).
It mandates that voting methods produce a voter-verifiable paper record and that election-integrity standards be modified accordingly to protect against fraud or mistake.

Section 2. Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections

Compliance Requirement (EAC): Within 30 days of the order, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for the national mail voter registration form (52 U.S.C. 20508), including recording document details by State/local officials. Acceptable proofs include U.S. passports, REAL ID-compliant documents indicating citizenship, official military IDs, or other valid government photo IDs accompanied by proof.
Compliance Requirement (DHS & State Dept.): The Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) must ensure State/local officials have free access to systems for verifying citizenship/immigration status. The Secretary of State must make relevant database information available to State/local election officials for citizenship verification.
Compliance Requirement (DHS & DOJ): DHS, in coordination with the DOGE Administrator, must review State voter registration lists and maintenance activities (52 U.S.C. 20507) against federal immigration databases and State records, using subpoenas if necessary. Within 90 days, DHS must provide the Attorney General (AG) and relevant State/local officials with information on foreign nationals who indicated registration or voting on immigration forms.
Compliance Requirement (AG & Federal Agencies): The AG must prioritize enforcement of laws restricting non-citizens from registering or voting (18 U.S.C. 611, 1015(f)) using federal and State databases. Heads of federal voter registration agencies must assess citizenship before providing voter registration forms to public assistance enrollees.

Section 3. Providing Other Assistance to States Verifying Eligibility

Compliance Requirement (Social Security & AG): The Commissioner of Social Security must make the Social Security Number Verification Service, Death Master File, and other relevant federal databases available to State/local election officials for eligibility verification, ensuring privacy and data security. The AG must ensure compliance with 52 U.S.C. 20507(g) and take action against States failing to meet NVRA and HAVA list maintenance requirements.
Compliance Requirement (Defense Dept.): The Secretary of Defense must update the Federal Post Card Application (UOCAVA) to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of eligibility to vote in the specific State.

Section 4. Improving the Election Assistance Commission

Compliance Requirement (EAC): The EAC must cease providing federal funds to States that do not comply with federal laws (52 U.S.C. 21145), including the requirement to accept the national mail voter registration form with documentary proof of citizenship.
Compliance Requirement (EAC): The EAC must amend the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 to establish standards prohibiting the use of barcodes/QR codes for vote counting (except for disability accommodation) and requiring voter-verifiable paper records. Within 180 days, the EAC must review and re-certify voting systems under these new standards and rescind previous certifications.
Compliance Requirement (EAC & DHS/FEMA): Following HAVA fund expenditure audits, the EAC must report discrepancies to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for enforcement. DHS and FEMA must heavily prioritize compliance with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and testing through accredited labs when providing Homeland Security Grant Programs funding.

Section 5. Prosecuting Election Crimes

Compliance Requirement (AG): The AG must enter into information-sharing agreements with chief State election officials to obtain detailed information on suspected violations, including ineligible voters, fraud, false information, intimidation, or other unlawful interference.
Compliance Requirement (AG): If States are unwilling to enter such agreements or cooperate, the AG must prioritize enforcement of federal election integrity laws in those States and review for potential withholding of discretionary DOJ grants and funds.
The AG must align the DOJ's litigation positions with the purpose and policy of this order.

Section 6. Improving Security of Voting Systems

Compliance Requirement (AG & DHS): The AG and DHS Secretary must prevent non-citizens from being involved in the administration of any federal election, including accessing election equipment or ballots, as long as election infrastructure is designated as critical infrastructure.
Compliance Requirement (DHS): DHS, in coordination with the EAC, must review and report on the security of all electronic systems used in voter registration and voting, especially those connected to the Internet, assessing risks of compromise.

Section 7. Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day

Compliance Requirement (AG & EAC): The AG must enforce 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1 against States that count absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The EAC must condition funding to States on compliance with 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6), requiring uniform, non-discriminatory ballot receipt deadlines of Election Day for all voting methods (excluding UOCAVA ballots).

Section 8. Preventing Foreign Interference and Unlawful Use of Federal Funds

Compliance Requirement (AG): The AG, in consultation with the Secretary of the Treasury, must prioritize enforcement of 52 U.S.C. 30121 (prohibiting foreign national contributions) and 31 U.S.C. 1352 (prohibiting lobbying by organizations receiving federal funds).

Section 9. Federal Actions to Address Executive Order 14019

Compliance Requirement (All Agencies & EAC): Heads of all agencies and the EAC must cease all actions implementing Executive Order 14019 (Promoting Access to Voting), which was previously revoked. Within 90 days of this order, they must submit a report to the President describing compliance.

Section 10. Severability

Standard provision ensuring that if any part of the order is deemed invalid, the remainder remains in effect.

Section 11. General Provisions

States that the order does not impair existing agency authority or OMB functions, will be implemented consistent with applicable law and subject to appropriations, and does not create any enforceable rights or benefits.

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Executive Order 14248 - Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections (March 25, 2025)

Section 1. Purpose and Policy

The EO asserts that the U.S. lags behind other developed nations in enforcing basic election protections, such as requiring biometric voter identification, using paper ballots counted publicly, and limiting mail-in voting to specific circumstances.

It highlights the administration's policy to enforce federal statutes (2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1) requiring votes to be cast and received by Election Day, citing Republican National Committee v. Wetzel (2024).

The order identifies failures in enforcing prohibitions against foreign nationals voting (18 U.S.C. 1015, 611) and maintaining accurate voter registration lists as required by the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and Help America Vote Act (HAVA).

It mandates that voting methods produce a voter-verifiable paper record and that election-integrity standards be modified accordingly to protect against fraud or mistake.

Section 2. Enforcing the Citizenship Requirement for Federal Elections

Compliance Requirement (EAC): Within 30 days of the order, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) must require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for the national mail voter registration form (52 U.S.C. 20508), including recording document details by State/local officials. Acceptable proofs include U.S. passports, REAL ID-compliant documents indicating citizenship, official military IDs, or other valid government photo IDs accompanied by proof.

Compliance Requirement (DHS & State Dept.): The Secretary of Homeland Security (DHS) must ensure State/local officials have free access to systems for verifying citizenship/immigration status. The Secretary of State must make relevant database information available to State/local election officials for citizenship verification.

Compliance Requirement (DHS & DOJ): DHS, in coordination with the DOGE Administrator, must review State voter registration lists and maintenance activities (52 U.S.C. 20507) against federal immigration databases and State records, using subpoenas if necessary. Within 90 days, DHS must provide the Attorney General (AG) and relevant State/local officials with information on foreign nationals who indicated registration or voting on immigration forms.

Compliance Requirement (AG & Federal Agencies): The AG must prioritize enforcement of laws restricting non-citizens from registering or voting (18 U.S.C. 611, 1015(f)) using federal and State databases. Heads of federal voter registration agencies must assess citizenship before providing voter registration forms to public assistance enrollees.

Section 3. Providing Other Assistance to States Verifying Eligibility

Compliance Requirement (Social Security & AG): The Commissioner of Social Security must make the Social Security Number Verification Service, Death Master File, and other relevant federal databases available to State/local election officials for eligibility verification, ensuring privacy and data security. The AG must ensure compliance with 52 U.S.C. 20507(g) and take action against States failing to meet NVRA and HAVA list maintenance requirements.

Compliance Requirement (Defense Dept.): The Secretary of Defense must update the Federal Post Card Application (UOCAVA) to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship and proof of eligibility to vote in the specific State.

Section 4. Improving the Election Assistance Commission

Compliance Requirement (EAC): The EAC must cease providing federal funds to States that do not comply with federal laws (52 U.S.C. 21145), including the requirement to accept the national mail voter registration form with documentary proof of citizenship.

Compliance Requirement (EAC): The EAC must amend the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 to establish standards prohibiting the use of barcodes/QR codes for vote counting (except for disability accommodation) and requiring voter-verifiable paper records. Within 180 days, the EAC must review and re-certify voting systems under these new standards and rescind previous certifications.

Compliance Requirement (EAC & DHS/FEMA): Following HAVA fund expenditure audits, the EAC must report discrepancies to the Department of Justice (DOJ) for enforcement. DHS and FEMA must heavily prioritize compliance with the Voluntary Voting System Guidelines 2.0 and testing through accredited labs when providing Homeland Security Grant Programs funding.

Section 5. Prosecuting Election Crimes

Compliance Requirement (AG): The AG must enter into information-sharing agreements with chief State election officials to obtain detailed information on suspected violations, including ineligible voters, fraud, false information, intimidation, or other unlawful interference.

Compliance Requirement (AG): If States are unwilling to enter such agreements or cooperate, the AG must prioritize enforcement of federal election integrity laws in those States and review for potential withholding of discretionary DOJ grants and funds.

The AG must align the DOJ's litigation positions with the purpose and policy of this order.

Section 6. Improving Security of Voting Systems

Compliance Requirement (AG & DHS): The AG and DHS Secretary must prevent non-citizens from being involved in the administration of any federal election, including accessing election equipment or ballots, as long as election infrastructure is designated as critical infrastructure.

Compliance Requirement (DHS): DHS, in coordination with the EAC, must review and report on the security of all electronic systems used in voter registration and voting, especially those connected to the Internet, assessing risks of compromise.

Section 7. Compliance with Federal Law Setting the National Election Day

Compliance Requirement (AG & EAC): The AG must enforce 2 U.S.C. 7 and 3 U.S.C. 1 against States that count absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day. The EAC must condition funding to States on compliance with 52 U.S.C. 21081(a)(6), requiring uniform, non-discriminatory ballot receipt deadlines of Election Day for all voting methods (excluding UOCAVA ballots).