# 2026-06601: Barcodes for Ballots: President Orders Voter Citizenship Scans

2026-06601, Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections, is a Federal Register presidential document from Executive Office of the President published 2026-04-03, effective 2026-03-31; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-11-03).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06601
- As of: 2026-11-03
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-06601
- Title: Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections
- Type: Presidential Document
- Agencies: Executive Office of the President
- Citation: 91 FR 17125
- Published: 2026-04-03
- Effective: 2026-03-31
- Comments close: not stated
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: none
- Last updated: 2026-11-03

## In one line

Barcodes for Ballots: President Orders Voter Citizenship Scans

## Summary

This new order makes sure only U.S. citizens can vote in federal elections by using smart tools like barcodes on ballots to verify citizenship. It affects voters, election officials, and government agencies, aiming to stop fraud and keep elections fair. These changes start soon and may require some funding to set up the new verification systems.

## Effects PRIA read

- Mail ballots only for enrolled people: cost, high. The order directs the USPS not to transmit any mail-in or absentee ballot for an individual unless that person is enrolled on a State-specific Mail-In and Absentee Participation List. States may notify USPS no fewer than 90 days before a Federal election and are encouraged to submit the list of vot…
- Federal citizenship lists sent to States: benefit, medium. DHS, working with USCIS and the Social Security Administration, must compile and send each State a State Citizenship List of individuals confirmed as U.S. citizens who will be 18 or older and resident in the State; the list must be updated and transmitted no fewer than 60 days before each regularly…
- Barcodes and official-mail rules for ballots: cost, medium. The order directs the Postmaster General to propose rules (within 60 days of March 31, 2026) requiring all outbound ballot mail to be marked as Official Election Mail, be automation-compatible, and bear a unique Intelligent Mail barcode (or successor technology). USPS will also provide States with…
- Priority prosecutions for improper ballots: cost, medium. The Attorney General is directed to prioritize investigation and, as appropriate, prosecution of State and local officials or others who issue Federal ballots to individuals not eligible to vote in Federal elections, and of individuals or entities involved in printing, producing, shipping, or distr…
- Federal funds may be withheld from noncompliant States: cost, high. The order directs executive branch officials to take lawful steps to deter and address noncompliance with the order, including withholding Federal funds from noncompliant States and localities where such withholding is authorized by law.

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## Sources
- [2026-06601 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/03/2026-06601/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections)
- [2026-06601 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-04-03/pdf/2026-06601.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-06286, Addressing DEI Discrimination by Federal Contractors](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06286)
- [Next: 2026-06956, Adjusting Imports of Pharmaceuticals and Pharmaceutical Ingredients Into the Un…](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06956)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-06601 (as of 2026-11-03).