“President Donald Trump signed an executive order this past spring to build out federal lists tracking which voters are eligible to vote by mail.”
Attributed to Washington Examiner (reporting on Trump’s actions)
The article states that Trump has targeted mail-in ballots as a potential source of fraud and that he signed an executive order in the spring to create federal lists of voters eligible for mail voting.
What the proof shows
On March 31, 2026 President Trump signed Executive Order 14399 directing federal agencies to compile and transmit “State Citizenship Lists” and directing the U.S. Postal Service to create rules that would require states to submit lists of voters to the USPS (a “Mail‑In and Absentee Participation List”). The EO and the USPS proposed rule (published under the EO) make explicit that federal lists and USPS-held lists were intended to be built and used in connection with mail ballots. The EO itself states that appearing on the citizenship list does not register someone to vote, and several courts have since enjoined the EO’s key provisions (finding they exceed presidential authority). Thus the Examiner’s statement captures the core fact but omits important caveats about what the EO does and the subsequent court rulings.
Corrected version
On March 31, 2026 President Trump signed Executive Order 14399 directing DHS and SSA to compile “State Citizenship Lists” and directing USPS rulemaking that would require states to submit lists of voters for mail ballots (a “Mail‑In and Absentee Participation List”); the EO does not itself register voters and key provisions have been enjoined by federal courts.
Automated evidence confidence: 0%
References and proof
Every link was reachable when published. Each proof point states how that source bears on the claim.
Executive Order 14399 of March 31, 2026 — Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections ↗
The White House / Federal Register PDFSection 2(a): "...the Secretary of Homeland Security...shall take appropriate action to compile and transmit to the chief election official of each State a list of individuals confirmed to be United States citizens...(State Citizenship List)." Section 3(b)(ii)-(iv): states may notify USPS and "submit to the USPS...a list of voters eligible to vote in a Federal election...to whom the State intends to provide a mail-in or absentee ballot" and USPS would provide each State with a "Mail-In and Absentee Participation List."
Federal Register: Executive Order 14399 — Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections (91 FR 17125) ↗
Federal Register / GovInfoExecutive Order 14399 of March 31, 2026: text published in the Federal Register instructing DHS/USCIS and SSA to compile State Citizenship Lists and directing USPS rulemaking on mail‑in ballots (91 FR 17125).
Ballot Mail for Federal Elections — Proposed Rule (Postal Service), Federal Register (June 2, 2026) ↗
U.S. Postal Service / Federal Register (proposed rule)Background: "On March 31, 2026, the President issued Executive Order 14399..." The proposed rule directs that, as part of state notification, a state "should...submit...no fewer than 60 days before the election, a list of voters eligible to vote in a Federal election in such State to whom the State intends to provide a mail‑in or absentee ballot to be transmitted via the USPS" and describes the Mail‑In and Absentee Participation List the USPS would maintain.
MEMORANDUM & ORDER (June 25, 2026), State of California et al. v. Donald J. Trump, No. 1:26-cv-11581 (D. Mass.) ↗
U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts (Judge Indira Talwani)The court granted summary judgment for plaintiffs and declared Sections 2 and 3 of Executive Order 14399 "legally void" as ultra vires and in violation of separation of powers; it described those sections as directing DHS to compile 'State Citizenship Lists' and directing USPS to maintain 'Mail‑In and Absentee Participation Lists' and to refuse delivery of mail ballots from voters not on those lists.
Federal judge halts Trump’s election executive order seeking to create a federal voter list ↗
Associated PressA federal judge...halted President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a federal voter list and limit who can receive a mail ballot. Plaintiffs argued...the order should be found unconstitutional...The judge agreed, saying the provisions seeking to create a federal list of eligible voters and using the U.S. Postal Service to determine who can receive a mail ballot are 'legally void.'
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