Trump’s voting order threatens the integrity of Washington’s elections | Editorial

In a troubling power grab that undermines Washington’s successful voting system, President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order imposing stringent proof-of-citizenship requirements that go far beyond showing identification at the polls.

Election experts warn that this could disenfranchise millions of Americans. It is yet another authoritarian measure from an administration that brazenly defies the Constitution, federal laws and states’ rights.

Washingtonians should be especially concerned. Our state has pioneered mail-in voting, creating a system that simultaneously increases access while maintaining security.

Trump’s executive order interferes with states’ rights to conduct their own elections. It directly threatens Washington’s time-tested vote-by-mail system that has proved reliable, accessible and secure.

The state’s system has long enjoyed broad support across party lines and was originally championed by Republicans like former Washington Secretary of State Ralph Munro.

Trump argues that his order secures the vote against illegal voting by noncitizens, though multiple studies and investigations have consistently shown such cases to be exceedingly rare.

Current law already requires voters to attest, under penalty of perjury, that they are citizens when registering to vote. Those who attempt to vote illegally face severe consequences, including prison time and deportation.

This is a manufactured issue intended to sow distrust in elections and gin up even more anti-immigrant animus.

America’s electoral system should aim to inform and engage every eligible voter, not create unnecessary barriers that discourage participation and effectively rig the game. That should not be a controversial position.

Under Trump’s order, acceptable documents to prove citizenship when registering to vote would be limited to a U.S. passport, a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license or a photo ID presented with other proof of citizenship.

Most of those will require a birth certificate at some point in the chain of applications. That creates enormous problems for many Washingtonians. Consider that fewer than half of Americans have valid U.S. passports, and most states—including Washington’s —don’t offer driver’s licenses that specifically list citizenship status.

Women who have changed their names after marriage face particular challenges. In almost every case, their last names no longer match their birth certificate so they would need multiple documents to prove their identity and citizenship.

The elderly, low-income voters and people from marginalized communities also are at significant risk of being left out if they do not have a birth certificate or other proof of citizenship.

A similar requirement in New Hampshire already has created complications for women.

Washington is among 19 states challenging Trump’s executive order in court. The lawsuit argues that a president cannot order these changes because the Constitution gives the states the power to administer their elections. It also notes that the order conflicts with the 1993 National Voter Registration Act.

The problems also do not end at registration. Trump would give federal authorities more power to purge state voter rolls.

The order directs the Department of Homeland Security and the new Department of Government Efficiency to review states’ voter registration lists, using subpoena power if necessary. This represents a dangerous federal overreach.

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown has proactively challenged Trump’s executive actions, previously leading lawsuits against other unconstitutional orders. This is a battle worth fighting. The states must not allow this assault on democracy to stand.

Washington’s vote-by-mail system has successfully increased participation while maintaining integrity. It reduces barriers to voting, particularly for working Washingtonians who cannot easily take time off on Election Day.

The courts must recognize this executive order as an unconstitutional invasion of states’ authority to run their own elections.

Our democracy functions best when more citizens participate, not when artificial barriers exclude legitimate voters. Do Republicans fear elections in which all eligible voters vote?

Washington has long led the nation in creating accessible, secure voting systems.

We must defend these achievements against federal overreach and continue championing a democracy that works for all citizens, not just those with easy access to specific documents or the privilege of flexible schedules on Election Day.