By Priscilla Rahn | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
As a Frederick Douglass Republican and former Vice Chair of the Colorado GOP, I’ve always believed that a fair and transparent electoral system is the foundation of our nation. President Trump’s recent executive order, “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections,” addresses critical vulnerabilities in our election system—vulnerabilities that have eroded trust and threatened the integrity of our democracy.
This order provides much-needed reforms to secure our elections and ensure that every legitimate vote is counted fairly.
The executive order covers a broad range of election reforms, not just voter ID laws. While voter ID is one component, it also tackles issues like voter eligibility, mail-in voting, election infrastructure security, and foreign interference—all of which are necessary to restore confidence in our electoral process.
Critics on the left have called these reforms racist or discriminatory, but the truth is that they are vital for ensuring free and fair elections.
One of the key issues addressed by the executive order is the need for accurate voter rolls. Too many states, like Colorado, have neglected to properly maintain their voter registration lists, allowing ineligible individuals—whether non-citizens or people who’ve moved—to potentially vote.
By requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, this order ensures that only eligible citizens can vote in federal elections. This is a common-sense reform that will prevent fraud and protect the integrity of the election.
The executive order also tackles the growing issue of mail-in voting, which has proven vulnerable to manipulation. In some states, late-arriving ballots—often without postmarks—were accepted, leading to doubts about the election results.
The order clarifies that ballots must be received by Election Day, ensuring that the results reflect only those votes cast within the legally prescribed time frame. This reform will go a long way in easing concerns about late ballots skewing results.
Another crucial reform is the focus on preventing foreign interference in our elections. Foreign governments have attempted to influence U.S. elections through disinformation campaigns and financial contributions.
The executive order strengthens enforcement of laws prohibiting foreign nationals from voting or contributing to elections. This is essential to protect the sovereignty of our elections and ensure that only American citizens have a say in choosing our leaders.
Security is also a major focus of the executive order. Voting systems and election infrastructure have become increasingly vulnerable to cyberattacks. By directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Election Assistance Commission to assess the security of voting equipment, the order helps ensure that our election systems are protected from hacking and tampering.
In a world where cybersecurity threats are growing, securing election infrastructure is non-negotiable.
While many oppose these reforms, particularly voter ID laws, it’s crucial to understand that these measures are not about disenfranchising voters.
Requiring voter ID ensures that only eligible voters are casting ballots, and helps protect against voter fraud. The notion that voter ID laws are racist is unfounded.
In fact, the vast majority of Americans already have IDs, and for those who don’t, obtaining one is a simple and accessible process in most states. Requiring voter ID is about ensuring the legitimacy of every vote cast in an election.
To suggest that voter ID laws suppress votes is to insult the intelligence of Black Americans and other minority groups. I believe that requiring voter ID is not a barrier, but a safeguard for ensuring that every legitimate vote counts. It’s a tool to ensure fairness in elections, not to discriminate.
We should not assume that minority groups are incapable of obtaining an ID or participating in the electoral process.
The executive order also includes provisions for creating a paper trail in voting systems. This ensures that voters can verify their votes, making it easier to audit and recount ballots if necessary.
This transparency will enhance public confidence in the accuracy and fairness of election results. The goal is to create a system that is both secure and transparent, where every eligible voter can trust that their vote will count and that the final results reflect the will of the people.
President Trump’s executive order on election reform is a necessary step toward restoring the integrity of our elections.
These reforms are about securing our election system, protecting citizens from fraud, and ensuring that only legitimate votes are counted. It’s about creating a system where every voter, regardless of background, can have confidence that their vote is counted fairly.
Election reform is not a partisan issue—it’s a national imperative.
It’s time to take action and make our elections more secure, transparent, and trustworthy for all Americans.
Priscilla Rahn is a former competitive tennis player, women’s figure competitor and experienced coach. She is a master teacher, former Vice Chair of the Colorado GOP and Project 21 Ambassador.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.