Press Release – Coalition Applauds Executive Order 53

Summary

Virginia Fair Elections (VFE), a coalition committed to ensuring transparent and secure elections in Virginia, has publicly praised Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 53, issued on September 12, 2025. This executive order aims to enhance election integrity by modernizing voter list maintenance and strengthening election administration processes across the Commonwealth. VFE Chair Lynn Taylor emphasized that the order is a pivotal step in guaranteeing that only eligible voters remain on the voter rolls and are allowed to participate in elections. The order mandates collaboration between the Virginia Department of Elections and federal agencies such as the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Election Assistance Commission to adopt updated federal guidelines while maintaining Virginia’s stringent voter eligibility standards. Key provisions include utilizing the DHS SAVE data aggregator to verify citizenship status, conducting statewide election preparedness exercises, and reinforcing existing security measures like paper ballots and offline voting machines. VFE advocates for additional reforms to verify voter eligibility at the point of registration to complement the retroactive removal of ineligible voters. These comprehensive measures aim to bolster public trust in the electoral process ahead of Virginia’s November general elections, which include statewide offices and House of Delegates races, with early voting beginning September 19th.

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You can review the full press release below, with options to download and share to your socials. Additionally you can also find a link to the full Executive Order below.