Establishment of Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity
May 16, 2017
Signed by: Donald Trump
Signed on: May 11, 2017
Published on: May 16, 2017
May 16, 2017
Signed by: Donald Trump
Signed on: May 11, 2017
Published on: May 16, 2017
Summary
Creates a group to study federal elections to find ways to make voting more fair and honest and to identify problems that could lead to fraud.
What problem does this solve?
Some people have lost trust in the fairness of federal elections. This order creates a special group to study the voting process and report on what works well, what doesn't, and where fraud could happen.
What does this order do?
Creates a new advisory commission
Establishes the Presidential Advisory Commission on Election Integrity to study the registration and voting processes used in Federal elections.
Defines the commission's mission
Requires the commission to identify practices that improve or harm public confidence in elections and to find weaknesses that could lead to improper or fraudulent voting.
Sets commission leadership and members
Appoints the Vice President as the chair of the commission. The President will appoint up to 15 additional members with experience in elections and voter integrity.
Defines improper and fraudulent voting
Provides specific definitions for what counts as improper voter registration, improper voting, fraudulent voter registration, and fraudulent voting.
Sets a termination date for the commission
States that the commission will be shut down 30 days after it submits its final report to the President.
Who does this affect?
- Voters
- State and local election officials
- Federal agencies
What is the real world impact?
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Increases confidence in elections
Aims to make people trust federal elections more by studying the voting process. The commission will report on good practices, bad practices, and possible weaknesses to improve the system.
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Could be used to support stricter voting laws
Critics worry the commission might be used to find reasons to create new voting rules. These new rules could make it harder for certain groups of people to vote, even if there is no proof of widespread fraud.
When does this start?
The commission was established and began its work on May 11, 2017, but it has a specific end date.
Commission termination
The commission will end its work 30 days after it gives its final report to the President.