Trump signs executive order to create national list of eligible voters

President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed an executive order to create a nationwide list of verified eligible voters, a move that is sure to draw legal challenges as the president continues to demand further restrictions on voting ahead of this year's midterm elections.

The order directs federal agencies to compile and cross-check voter data, part of a broader effort the administration has pursued since the start of the term. Much of it has been blocked through legal challenges brought by voting rights groups and Democratic state attorneys general who allege it's an unconstitutional power grab that would disenfranchise large groups of voters.

Election experts said the new order would likely meet the same resistance. 'The Constitution is very clear — the president has no power over elections in the states,' Becker said. 'This will be blocked as soon as lawyers can get to the courthouse.'

The White House defended the measure as a routine step to ensure only eligible citizens vote.