Citizenship Verification EO (E.O. 14399)

Summary

Establishes a system for federal agencies to create and share lists of citizens with states to help make sure only citizens vote in federal elections.

What problem does this solve?

Federal law says only citizens can vote, but there is not a single federal system to help states check this. This order makes federal agencies create lists of citizens for states to use and adds new rules for mail-in ballots to prevent fraud.

Who does this affect?

State election officials
Mail-in voters
Federal agencies (DHS, SSA, USPS)

What does this order do?

Creates federal citizenship lists for states

Directs the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to make lists of citizens for each state and send them to election officials 60 days before a federal election.

Sets new rules for mail-in ballots

Orders the U.S. Postal Service to create rules requiring all mail-in ballots to have special tracking barcodes and markings.

Prioritizes prosecuting election fraud

Tells the Attorney General to focus on investigating and charging officials or others who send ballots to people who are not allowed to vote.

Restricts mail ballot delivery

Proposes a rule that the USPS will not deliver mail-in ballots from people who are not on a special list provided by the state.

Threatens to withhold federal money

Allows the Attorney General and other agencies to hold back federal funds from states and cities that do not follow the new rules, if allowed by law.

Requires states to keep election records

Tells states and local areas to keep all election materials, like ballot envelopes, for a period of five years.

What is the real world impact?

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Creates potential barriers to voting

Critics might argue that creating complex federal citizenship lists could wrongly flag eligible voters, making it harder for them to vote. The process for correcting errors might be slow or difficult for some people to use.

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Centralizes federal control over state elections

Gives federal agencies like DHS and USPS a larger role in how states run their elections, which some states might see as overreach. It could lead to legal fights over states' rights.

When does this start?

This order takes effect on March 31, 2026, and sets several deadlines for federal agencies to act within the next 120 days.

USPS rulemaking starts

The Postmaster General must start the process for new mail-in ballot rules within 60 days of this order (by May 30, 2026).

Citizenship list system setup

The Department of Homeland Security must create the system for the citizenship lists within 90 days of this order (by June 29, 2026).

Final USPS rule issued

The final rule for mail-in ballots must be published no later than 120 days from the date of this order (by July 29, 2026).

Citizenship lists sent to states

The completed citizenship lists must be sent to states at least 60 days before every regularly scheduled federal election.

Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections