President Donald Trump signed an executive order this week to improve the integrity of American elections.
“Despite pioneering self-government, the United States now fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections employed by modern, developed nations, as well as those still developing,” the order said, adding that countries like India and Brazil now tie voter identification to a biometric database, while the United States allows people to use the honor system when stating that they are a citizen with the right to vote.
In Germany and Canada, paper ballots are required, and Denmark and Sweden limit mail-in voting to those who are unable to vote in person. Those countries do not count ballots that come in late, regardless of the postmark, while in the US, ballots are counted even if they arrive many days after Election Day.
In Alaska, ballots can arrive 15 days after Election Day and still be counted, which adds to the uncertainty of outcomes and feeds mistrust in the process, due to the ranked-choice ballot system that cannot be employed until the ballots are all in.
The executive order includes:
- Mandatory proof of citizenship: The Election Assistance Commission is now required to obtain government-issued proof of US citizenship from individuals registering to vote.
- Interagency data sharing: Federal agencies, such as the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, must provide states with access to federal databases to verify voter eligibility and citizenship.
- Enforcement of election laws: The United States Attorney General is directed to prioritize prosecution of non-citizen voting and related offenses, utilizing Department of Homeland Security records and coordinating with state attorneys general.
- Voting equipment standards: The order mandates updates to security standards for voting equipment, including the requirement for a voter-verifiable paper ballot record and the prohibition of ballots that contain counted votes within barcodes or QR codes.
- Election Day compliance: States must count only those ballots received by Election Day for federal elections, with federal funding contingent upon adherence to this mandate. This will impact Alaska’s elections. Alaska has the longest period during which ballots can arrive after Election Day and still be counted in a general election. No other state offers a longer period for late-arriving ballots to be counted, making Alaska’s 15-day window the most generous in the US for general elections.
I agree!!!
One vote-One person-ID required. Physical voting (Handicap exception)
Paper ballot, open/close times, no exception for late ballots.
Exception-Military voting
Is that what President Trump intended? That’s the way I read and interpreted. (some data and information obtained from other sources
determined this sequence)
Good!
If only he could sign an order outlawing RCV and any other voting scheme other than the person with the most votes wins. Maybe that is on the way.
I’m against RCV but as a practice it did receive the most votes now twice. You are saying you would like the president to overturn the will of the people? So use anti democracy methods to overturn election results? That seems like something a banana republic would do.
RCV would seem like a Banana Republic would incorporate into legal activity. Lisa Murkowski appreciates your support.
You know what a banana republic would do Joe?
It would install the leaders daughter into a leadership position & then change election rules to keep her there.
This banana republic wants her OUT.
And you don’t think there is d-baggery involved in a flawed voting system continuing to get support it shouldn’t have? It’s either that or people really are that stupid and aren’t worth the risk of defending and safeguarding.
Joe
You don’t know who or what got the most votes, it’s rigged.
RCV is just another easy excuse for unrealistic outcomes.
Don’t read too much into that statement.
Just because I would be happy to see RCV outlawed across the land, I do not expect the President to ignore the “will” of the people.
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And, I put will in quotes because I have a lot of doubts the passage of RCV in 2020 was 100% legit, and the repeal effort was definitely hamstrung by effective marketing by outside forces.
These new laws will only make it more difficult for altruism and self-sacrifice. The collective conscience versus the individuals. Ayn Rand versus Karl Marx, if you will. Progressivism versus the individual. It is unlikely that American society can be reprogrammed for self-respect and self-esteem. The Progressives are still in charge. Unfortunately, there is nothing in this order where the individual’s integrity is maintained. We are still under the yoke of faith in our public institutions. No, thank you. Why not a third-party facilitator to ensure the voter knows for a fact their ballot was counted? Then, we can compare one data source with another, ensuring election integrity. Blockchain technology is the answer here. Back to the damage the Progressives have done to America’s mental health. Altruism, like the Progressive government, is a crime against humanity. The weeping and gnashing of teeth will only worsen as the individual (junkie) is slowly detoxed away from barbiturates of entitlement. Let’s see how tough you are when the cold and hard facts of accountability come knocking on your door.
Ranked-choice voting must be Federally outlawed. Our state legislature and governor seem to have no courage or intention to repeal RCV in Alaska and bring an end to the election corruption.
Unfortunately, on the last Major vote, it was approved under a bunch of misled lies. Then with this past vote, the bill was worded wrong, deliberately to misguide people. Who ever worded it KNEW what they were doing to confuse the people voting on it. NOW there is a big chance it could pass on next year’s ballot if it is correctly word. We NOW have a great group that has corrected the past problem and working greatly to this challenge.
State Legislatures and Congress have primacy over elections. P. Trumps Executive Order avoids thus obvious hurdle by directing the Election Assistance Commission and several agencies (Homeland Security) to provide information to the State elections entities.
A State legislature could enact specific elements into State law. Given that those most likely to support this effort 8n Alaska can’t count to 32 (11 votes in Ak Senate and 21 votes in House) citizens could enact changes by intitative.
Yes Yes Yes
Finally, some sanity and common-sense in our elections.
Agree with all about forbidding RCV. What a disaster it has been. Murkowski has embarrassed the State of Alaska.
Some very good ideas. Start talking about a “biometric database”, though, and we’re gonna have a problem.
Maybe we could spit on a piece of paper & have it analyzed at the polling place.
(kidding)
I’m not sure 🤔 how Senator Lisa Murkowski…
Will be able to be reelected
With all this new voting 🗳
Integrity in place
Maybe she can be re-elected
In another write-in _______
or go from Republican to
Independent…
So clever, Miss Murkowski
I was so right not to vote for her…
Amen to most except maybe the biometrics.
This explains the departure of the Elections Official.
Don’t think it does.
There’s one little problem with Trump’s latest EO re: elections. It’s called the Constitution. Is this not a classic example of federal “overreach”? How about a little intellectual and ideological consistency?
Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.
Time to add a lifetime jail sentence for those who have corrupted our elections….that definitely includes the politicians.
47 wastes more paper and sharpie ink, the states control elections. His executive order will be ruled invalid. It’s all part of his grand scheme to convince people there is wide spread voter fraud. It’s all a con game to him.
Are we winning yet? Since Jan 20, the Dow is down to 41,000 from 45,000. S&P is down to 4,100 from 6,100. Thousands of Federal workers laid off crippling the agencies they were fired from. Now Social Security is at risk. Thanks Trump!
Now social security is at risk and it’s Trump fault.
Man it was so solid just two months ago, who knew?
And we need to cripple vastly MORE federal agencies!
When will you ignorant and gullible statists realize that government is the disease and not the cure?
“Government is not eloquence, it is not reason, it is force! Like fire, it is a dangerous servant, and and a fearful master.”
– George Washington
Sebastian, why do you believe, in your supreme arrogance and immorality, that institutionalized coercion is a moral and practical foundation for society?
“S&P is down to 4,100 from 6,100.”
Holy S***.
Seriously. I am pointing and laughing. You deserve to be ridiculed for that statement.
The S&P 500 closed at 5580.94 on Friday. The last time it was in the 4,100 range was 2023.
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I mean… seriously. You could not even be bothered to look it up before posting? I cannot even call it research because it is easier to do than using autocorrect.
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You deserve to be laughed off of MRAK for this one statement. Is your TDS so complete that you are willing to believe everything you hear that disparages the man without any effort to verify?
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LOL. ROFLMAO.
Another order that violates both the US and Alaska Constitution. Trump can use this when DOGE removes wasteful toilet paper from Federal buildings
I believe Trumps suggestion are correct about FEDERAL elections, but state can choose how state elections are done.
Help us understand, Liz. In what statewide election is a federal candidate not on the ballot?
We should “red stripe” the drivers licenses of non-citizens.
Because most people vote w/ a DL for their voter ID.
Problem solved.
Excellent suggestion. And then demand that ID is presented.
There are two documents that prove citizenship: an original birth certificate and a passport. 57% of Americans don’t have a passport. Do you know where your original birth certificate is? No? Sorry, you don’t vote.
This Executive Order is a direct violation of Article 1 & 2 of the U.S. Constitution which gives states (with Congressional oversight) authority over the time, manner and place for congressional elections; and voting processes for the presidential election. Not only does this violate the separation of powers, but also state sovereignty and the 10th Amendment. This isn’t how our republican form of government works – the president does not get to rule by decree – especially on matters clearly under state and congressional authority. There is no such thing as federal elections! There are only state elections for federal offices!
Perhaps the Alaska public itself should reclaim this “state” instead of relying soley on top down decisions.
Clean up our own state government and elected leaders for a start.
Look who represents us in Juneau and Washington! Begich hasn’t even co sponsored the elimination of Department of Education bill. The so called “conservative”.
That isn’t going to happen, but the public will continue yapping about being a “conservative”, “self sufficient” and “independent” in Alaska.