Trump moves to push election changes ahead US midterm vote

President Donald Trump said on Friday he would seek to impose voter identification requirements for the November midterm elections, whether Congress approves them or not, raising the prospect of executive action on an issue traditionally overseen by states.

Trump said he plans to issue an executive order mandating voter identification, but did not detail the legal basis for such a move.

“I have searched the depths of Legal Arguments not yet articulated or vetted on this subject, and will be presenting an irrefutable one in the very near future!” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"There will be Voter I.D. for the Midterm Elections, whether approved by Congress or not! Also, the People of our Country are insisting on Citizenship and No Mail-In Ballots, with exceptions for Military, Disability, Illness, or Travel. Thank you for your attention to this matter!" he further said.

Under the US Constitution, state governments, not the federal government, oversee elections, with most contests administered by county and local officials. Any unilateral executive action is likely to face legal challenges.

Lawmakers voted 218–213 in favour of the measure, with only one Democrat joining Republicans. The bill now heads to the Republican-led Senate, where it is expected to receive a vote but is unlikely to secure the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster, Reuters reported.

The legislation would require documentary proof of citizenship at registration and impose criminal penalties on election officials who register individuals without the required documentation. Republicans also added a photo ID requirement for voters casting ballots at polling stations or by mail in future federal elections.

Republicans cite public backing for voter ID measures, pointing to surveys including one by the Pew Research Centre showing broad support for photo identification requirements.

The bill traces its roots to the 2024 presidential campaign and Trump’s claims that widespread voter fraud led to his 2020 election defeat, assertions widely rejected by courts and election officials.

With Republicans holding narrow congressional majorities and midterms historically unfavourable to the president’s party, the debate over voting rules is set to remain a central political battleground in the months ahead, according to Reuters.

(With Inputs from Reuters)