The LWVWA Opposes President Trump's Anti-Voter Executive Order

27 Mar 2025 2:04 PM | Anonymous

On Thursday, March 27, the League of Women Voters of Washington sent out the media advisory below to outlets across the state.

League of Women Voters of Washington Opposes President Trump’s Anti-Voter Executive Order 

On Tuesday, President Trump issued an executive order on elections, which includes the following actions: 

  • Requires the Election Assistance Commission to add documentary proof of citizenship to the federal voter registration form.
  • Requires states to access databases to verify eligibility.
  • Instructs the attorney general and DOGE to review voter registration databases.
  • Requires that all ballots be received by Election Day.

The League of Women Voters of Washington strongly opposes President Trump’s executive order. It will damage Washington state's vote-by-mail election system and introduce chaos to our well-functioning system. The League notes the following potential impacts on Washington elections: 

Proof of Citizenship Requirement: This order could disenfranchise millions of Washingtonians who lack passports (over 2.7 million1), have name changes due to marriage (over 1.5 million2), or lack enhanced driver’s licenses or ID cards (78% in 20243). 

Ballot Deadline Restrictions: Washington’s vote-by-mail system ensures all ballots postmarked by Election Day are counted. Changing this common-sense process would unfairly penalize voters, especially in rural areas. 

Federal Oversight of Voter Rolls: Washington already maintains a secure, statewide voter database.4 The EO would introduce unnecessary federal interference by DOGE, undermining election integrity. 

The League of Women Voters of the United States issued a statement about the impact nationally. 

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  1. SAVE Act Tables, The Center for American Progress
  2. SAVE Act Tables, The Center for American Progress
  3. Getting There: Most Washington IDs won’t fly in a year, state officials say, urging people to get their enhanced licenses for airplane travel, The Spokesman Review, 5.13.2024.
  4. Washington State Voter Registration Database (VRDB) | WA Secretary of State

The League of Women Voters of Washington is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.
The League of Women Voters of Washington Education Fund is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. LWVWA Education Fund contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law. The League of Women Voters Education Fund does not endorse the contents of any web pages to which it links.

League of Women Voters of the United States

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