US President Donald Trump is exploring a 17-page draft executive order that would declare a national emergency due to alleged Chinese interference in the 2020 election. The proposed order aims to grant the president extraordinary powers over voting, including banning mail ballots and restricting voting machines. However, experts say the idea of a presidential emergency on elections has never been tested in court.
Trump’s legal team, which includes Peter Ticktin, has claimed that China interfered in the 2020 election, citing alleged Chinese efforts to influence the election through driver’s licenses for mail ballots. The proposal also requires hand-marked and hand-counted paper ballots, proof of citizenship for voter registration, and restricts mail ballots to limited circumstances.
Critics argue that such a move would undermine democracy and violate constitutional powers assigned to state legislatures and Congress. The League of Women Voters has stated that it will challenge any executive action that suppresses voters or undermines free and fair elections.
A recent poll found 54% of American adults oppose Trump’s desire for federal government takeover of election administration, while 55% of independents also expressed opposition.
Source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/02/26/trump-elections-executive-order-activists