President Donald Trump and Republican lawmakers have made requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration a priority, yet the initiative faces significant hurdles.

A federal judge recently blocked Trump’s executive order mandating citizenship proof for federal elections, while related legislation in Congress lacks the Senate support needed to advance.

Even Republican-controlled states are currently struggling with implementation. In Texas, state lawmakers failed to pass a bill requiring citizenship proof before their legislative session ended.

Since 2023, the number of states considering proof-of-citizenship legislation has tripled, but few initiatives have succeeded. Wyoming enacted the measures, but similar efforts stalled in Florida, Missouri, and Utah, where lawmakers focused instead on voter identification requirements.

Ohio’s proposal remains active, although Ohio Republican Governor Mike DeWine expressed reluctance toward bills that complicate voting procedures.

Other states implementing such requirements encountered problems. Arizona’s audit revealed data handling issues affecting citizenship verification, and Kansas saw its requirement overturned after thousands of eligible citizens could not register.

The Florida bill, which did not pass, would have verified citizenship through state and federal databases. Supporters noted that the effort was filed in response to Trump’s calls for greater border security.