President Donald Trump signs an executive order in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, D.C. (Pool)
"It's an honor to sign this one," he added. "I sign all of them, but to sign this one is a great honor."
The U.S. has failed "to enforce basic and necessary election protections," the order states.
Election experts immediately criticized the move, saying it would disenfranchise millions of voters.
"This executive order would block tens of millions of American citizens from voting," the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University wrote on X. "Presidents have no authority to do this. This order, like the SAVE Act now before Congress, would hurt voters and suppress the vote."
The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, known as the SAVE Act, is a bill being pushed by Republicans that would make sweeping changes to voter registration, including requiring voters to present documents proving U.S. citizenship.
PA WOMAN CHARGED WITH TRYING TO REGISTER DEAD PEOPLE, INCLUDING OWN FATHER, TO VOTE
"I Voted" stickers for people who cast a ballot on Election Day. (Dan Powers/USA Today Network-Wisconsin)
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Under the terms of the order, Trump directed the Election Assistance Commission to change the federal voter registration form to require government-issued proof of citizenship.
The order also attempts to bar states from counting mail ballots election officials receive after Election Day.
Louis Casiano is a reporter for Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to louis.casiano@fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/trump-signs-executive-order-requiring-proof-citizenship-federal-elections-honor-sign