United States President Donald Trump has warned he may impose new nationwide voting requirements through executive action if Congress refuses to pass his preferred election reform legislation.
The warning comes months before the midterm elections, where Republicans face a competitive political landscape and risk losing their slim majority in Congress.
Trump said he would move to require photo identification for voters and proof of citizenship for registration if lawmakers fail to act.
A Republican-backed proposal, known as the SAVE America election reform act, has already cleared the House of Representatives. However, its prospects in the Senate remain uncertain.
Senate Republicans hold only a narrow majority and are expected to struggle securing the Democratic support needed for passage.
Trump argued that voter identification is essential to protect election integrity. He repeated longstanding claims of widespread fraud, though courts and election officials have consistently rejected such assertions.
Legal scholars question whether a president can mandate nationwide voting standards without congressional approval.
The Constitution grants states broad authority over how elections are conducted.
Any executive order attempting to override state control would likely face swift legal challenges and could ultimately be decided by the Supreme Court.
Critics said the proposed requirements would disproportionately affect millions of Americans lacking passports or birth certificates. Civil rights groups warn that minority and young voters could be hardest hit.
An analysis by the Brennan Center estimated more than 21 million Americans lack easy access to documentation that could be required under stricter rules.
Democrats argued the legislation risks suppressing voter participation rather than safeguarding elections.
They maintained that there is no credible evidence of widespread fraud in recent national contests.
