Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jul 17: US President Donald Trump on Thursday announced an extensive election reform agenda, combining the declassification of intelligence records with executive actions and a fresh legislative push aimed at strengthening election security ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
In a prime-time address from the White House, Trump said restoring public confidence in the electoral process was a top priority, arguing that the United States must ensure elections are conducted in a secure and transparent manner.
"No country can be great without fair and honest elections," Trump said, adding that public trust in the electoral system is fundamental to the nation's strength.
As part of the initiative, the President authorised the release of previously classified intelligence and law enforcement documents that he said highlight vulnerabilities in the country's election infrastructure and alleged attempts by foreign actors to exploit those weaknesses.
Trump said the purpose of making the records public was to improve election security by identifying problems and addressing them quickly rather than undermining confidence in the democratic process.
He also directed the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), the Department of Justice, the FBI and the CIA to investigate how intelligence concerning alleged election-related threats was handled and whether any officials should face disciplinary action or criminal proceedings.
According to the President, his administration has begun informing governors, members of Congress and other elected representatives from states that were identified in the declassified records as potentially vulnerable to election-related cyber threats.
Trump said the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) would work with state and local election authorities to identify and fix technical vulnerabilities in voting systems before Americans head to the polls for the 2026 midterm elections.
He further announced that the DHS had been instructed to notify states about non-citizens allegedly found on voter registration rolls and to ensure that ineligible registrations are removed in accordance with the law.
A key component of the President's legislative agenda is the proposed SAVE America Act, which he urged Congress to pass without delay.
According to Trump, the legislation would require all voters to present government-issued photo identification and provide proof of US citizenship before casting a ballot. The proposal would also restrict mail-in voting primarily to voters who are ill, disabled, serving in the military or travelling.
The President maintained that election security should be a bipartisan issue, saying every American, irrespective of political affiliation, should support measures that ensure elections are free, fair and transparent.
During his address, Trump also criticised widespread mail-in voting, extended vote-counting periods and what he described as weaknesses in electronic voting systems. He said the federal government would continue working with state and local authorities to strengthen election infrastructure ahead of next year's congressional elections.
The speech marked Trump's most comprehensive statement on election policy since returning to office and outlined what is expected to be a central pillar of his administration's domestic agenda as preparations begin for the 2026 midterm polls.