New Bill Repeals Executive Order on Election Integrity, Blocks Federal Access to State Voter Data

This new piece of legislation, officially titled the Defending America’s Future Elections Act, has a very clear mission: it’s designed to push back against executive overreach in election administration and protect state-level data. The bill first declares that Congress and the States—not the President—are constitutionally in charge of setting the time, place, and manner of elections. More concretely, it immediately and completely cancels Executive Order 14248, an order previously issued by President Trump aimed at preserving election integrity, and forbids the government from spending a single federal dollar to implement or enforce it (SEC. 3).

The Data Firewall: Keeping Federal Hands Off State Rolls

If you’ve ever worried about who has access to your voter registration details, Section 4 of this bill is the key provision. It puts a hard stop on the Department of Government Efficiency (DGE) using any federal funds to access sensitive state voter registration lists, records on how those lists are maintained, or federal immigration databases. Essentially, the bill builds a financial firewall, blocking the DGE from using taxpayer money to cross-reference state voter rolls with federal immigration records. This move aims to protect the privacy of state voter data and ensure that federal agencies aren't using this information to challenge voter eligibility outside of established state processes.

Constitutional Clean-Up

This bill is less about creating new rules and more about reinforcing existing constitutional boundaries. The findings section (SEC. 2) argues that Executive Order 14248 was unconstitutional and would have unfairly stopped millions of Americans from voting. By repealing it, the Act removes a layer of federal involvement that many felt overstepped the President's authority. For state election officials, this means one less federal mandate to worry about, reinforcing their control over local election processes. It’s a procedural win for those who believe election administration should remain primarily a state and congressional responsibility, not one dictated by the White House.

What This Means for Regular Voters

For the average person, this bill is mostly about data privacy and reducing friction in the voting process. By blocking the DGE from accessing and cross-referencing voter and immigration data, the bill aims to prevent potential challenges to voter registration status based on federal data sweeps. If you’re a busy professional who relies on your state’s established registration system, this Act helps ensure that system isn't destabilized by a federal department attempting to conduct its own checks. The impact is subtle but important: it keeps the focus on state-run elections and out of the hands of one specific federal agency, offering a measure of security regarding how your personal voting data is handled and who gets to see it.