US President Donald Trump on Friday warned he may bypass Congress to enforce new voting rules before the November midterm elections, amid Republican fears of losing control of the legislature.
Trump said he could soon issue an executive order to require photo identification for voting and implement other nationwide election reforms if Congress does not pass legislation. “There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not!” he posted on his Truth Social platform.
The proposed action is expected to face legal challenges that could eventually reach the Supreme Court.
The Republican-backed “SAVE America” election reform act recently passed the House but is unlikely to clear the Senate, where Republicans lack the votes to pass it without Democratic support. The bill would also require proof of citizenship to register to vote.
Critics argue the legislation could disenfranchise millions of Americans, particularly young people and ethnic minorities, because many lack passports or birth certificates. A Brennan Center analysis found more than 21 million Americans may face difficulty accessing such documents.
Trump and his allies claim the reforms are needed to prevent voter fraud, though there is no evidence of widespread fraud in US elections. The president has previously used similar claims to justify efforts to overturn the 2020 election results, which were unsuccessful.
With polls indicating a potential Republican loss in Congress, Trump’s push for national election reforms highlights the high-stakes political battle ahead, with Democrats threatening to block his agenda if they regain control.
