The League of Women Voters of the United States issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump's signed executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” that threatens Americans’ freedom to vote and tramples states’ constitutional authority to run their own elections.  

“Let’s keep it real: this order is not about protecting elections; it is about making it harder for voters — particularly women voters — to participate in them,” said Celina Stewart, Chief Executive Officer of the League of Women Voters of the United States. “This executive order is an assault on our republic and a dangerous attempt to silence American voters. The President continues to overstep his authority and brazenly disregard settled law in this country. To be very clear — the League of Women Voters is prepared to fight back and defend our democracy.  

 “The President can’t unilaterally change election law,” said Marcia Johnson, Chief Counsel for the League of the Women Voters of the United States. “This order is not only an attack on American voters’ fundamental freedom to vote, it is also plainly unlawful. The League is committed to working with our partners and legal advocates to pursue all avenues in fighting back against this dangerous order, and we will use every tool at our disposal to defend voters from unjust restrictions on their freedom to vote.” 

The order's extreme provisions include: 

• Impermissibly requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote by altering the federal voter registration form. Nearly 80% of married women — more than 69 million American women — adopt their partner’s surname, and they would be unable to register to vote if the name on their ID does not directly match their proof of citizenship. Additionally, noncitizens registering to vote and then casting a ballot is already illegal in federal elections, and there is no evidence to suggest that noncitizen voter registration and voting is occurring at any meaningful scale.
• Prohibiting the counting of absentee and mail ballots postmarked by Election Day but received after, which 18 states and Washington DC currently permit.
• Giving the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) the authority to review states’ voter rolls.
• Withholding federal funds from states that do not cooperate with the order’s provisions. 

The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan organization with expertise in voting and elections. Our mission is to empower voters and defend democracy. For more than a century we have stood in the gap when government falls short of its duty. We will valiantly work to protect voters and free, fair, accessible elections.