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President Donald Trump is moving forward with attempts to change election rules, despite court rulings determining he lacks the authority to do so.
On Aug. 30, Trump announced plans to sign an executive order requiring voters to present identification in all elections. A previous executive order signed in March, which mandated government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship to register for federal elections, has been blocked by the courts, USA TODAY reported.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “Voter I.D. Must Be Part of Every Single Vote. NO EXCEPTIONS! I Will Be Doing An Executive Order To That End!!!”
He did not specify what kind of identification would be required, when the order would be signed or the legal basis for enforcing it.
“The Constitution does not grant the president any specific powers over elections,” U.S. District Judge Denise Casper of Massachusetts wrote in June. A federal judge in Washington, D.C., reached the same conclusion in April.
Here’s what to know in Tennessee.
Why does Trump want to enforce stricter voting laws?
Trump has long questioned the U.S. electoral system and continues to falsely claim that his 2020 loss to Democratic President Joe Biden was the result of widespread fraud.
Trump and his Republican allies have also made baseless claims about widespread voting by noncitizens, which is illegal and rarely occurs, USA TODAY reported.
What are Tennessee’s voter laws?
A voter hands their identification to a poll worker at Pleasant Ridge Elementary School during primary Election Day for Knoxville City Council at on August 26, 2025.
Thirty-six states have laws requesting or requiring voters to show some form of identification at the polls, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The remaining 14 states and Washington, D.C., use other methods to verify the identity of voters, for example: non-photo forms of identification such as a bank statement with name and address.
Tennessee is considered to have “strict” photo ID laws.
All voters must present a federal or Tennessee state ID containing the voter’s name and photograph when voting at the polls, whether voting early or on Election Day, according to the Secretary of State.
If a voter cannot present a photo ID, the voter votes on a provisional ballot and must return within two days to show an acceptable form of ID.
What voter identification is required in Tennessee?
First-time voter Alexander Pack hands his identification card to a poll worker at Woodland Elementary School on Election Day in Oak Ridge, Tenn., on Tuesday, November 5, 2024.
Tennessee accepts the following ID’s, even if expired:
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Tennessee driver license with your photo
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Photo ID issued by the Tennessee Department of Safety and Homeland Security
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Photo ID issued by the federal or Tennessee state government
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United States Military photo ID
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Tennessee handgun carry permit with your photo
First time voters who register by mail or using Online Voter Registration must also present one of the following if the ID is expired:
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Copy of a current utility bill
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Paycheck or other government document that shows the voter’s name and address
Trump’s voter ID push aligns with 2026 Tennessee governor race
Former President Donald Trump gives a kiss to U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee before they embark on a townhall Sept. 27, 2024 at Macomb Community College in Warren, Michigan.
Trump’s push for stricter voting laws coincides with the 2026 gubernatorial elections, during which 36 states, including Tennessee, will elect new governors.
In Tennessee, two prominent Republicans have entered the race — U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, a staunch Trump ally, and U.S. Representative John Rose. According to reports from the White House, Trump has struggled to decide which candidate to endorse.
“I’ll probably be forced to do it. I wish I didn’t have to do it. But you know, I’ll probably be forced to do it,” Trump is quoted as saying in an X post by USA TODAY White House Correspondent Joey Garrison. The president also called both candidates “fantastic.”
Rose first announced his bid for the Republican primary ticket in March, while Blackburn didn’t announce her candidacy until August. The two candidates are the only Republicans who have thrown their hats into the ring so far ahead of the 2026 election, but there are a number of Democrats vying for the position as well, the Tennessean previously reported.
Who is running for Tennessee governor? Marsha Blackburn and John Rose are not the only ones. What to know
What are the arguments for and against voter IDs?
Proponents argue that stricter identification requirements can help prevent in-person voter fraud and boost public trust in the election process.
However, critics contend that such fraud is rare, and that these measures place undue burdens on voters, potentially infringing on their right to vote. Furthermore, critics argue that the laws impose unnecessary costs and administrative challenges on elections officials.
Regardless of the verification rules in place, all voters are subject to perjury charges if they cast a ballot under false pretenses, added the National Conference.
What does the Constitution say?
The Constitution’s so-called elections clause says that the “Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof.” The clause also says Congress can “make or alter such Regulations.”
Contributing: USA TODAY, Joyce Orlando
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for the Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: President Trump seeks stricter elections: What to know in Tennessee
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