Washington D.C. – APIAVote, strongly opposes President Trump’s March 25th Executive Order that imposes new federal requirements on state-run elections, which includes mandating documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, involving federal law enforcement in election oversight, and restricting mail-in ballot return deadlines. These election requirements not only undermine the existing Federal election process; under the Constitution, it is Congress and the states, not the executive that set the rules for our elections, furthermore, this EO threatens to disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly within the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community.
“The AAPI community is the fastest growing voting bloc in the country, comprising over 24 million individuals. In 2020 and 2024, we have seen significant increases in voter turnout, about a quarter of whom are new AAPI voters participating in each federal election cycle. Requiring documentary proof of citizenship, such as a US passport or REAL IDs explicitly indicating citizenship status, in order to register to vote poses substantial and complicated barriers for many eligible voters who do not already possess these forms of ID,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote.
“Reports indicate that half of the American population do not have a passport and they as well as AAPIs who don’t have a US passport would be severely burdened by having to find the documentation, navigate a long bureaucratic process, pay significant fees, and take the time needed to get one or other EO compliant document. This would disproportionately impact first-time voters, the elderly, low-income, and those living in rural areas who will have to travel long distances in order to complete the process.”
“The EO also impacts AAPI voters who vote by mail, of which more than two-thirds of the AAPI community prefers to do so, often due to language access needs, work schedules, and mobility issues. Restricting mail-in ballot deadlines by prohibiting the counting of ballots after Election Day – even if they have been postmarked by Election Day – would further disenfranchise AAPI voters.”
“Study after study has shown that voter fraud in the United States is exceptionally rare. Furthermore, our Constitution explicitly stipulates that our elections be regulated by Congress and the states. By attempting to bypass this authority and wrap our state-run elections in federal government red tape, the President’s executive order would undermine our foundational checks and balances that have ensured the integrity of our democracy.”
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About APIAVote: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. See our website for more information at https://www.apiavote.org/
