Federal Court Blocks Trump’s Executive Order on Election Changes

A federal judge has permanently blocked most parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order on election changes. This order aimed to require documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston ruled against the administration’s efforts, converting her previous temporary injunction into a permanent ban.

The Court’s Decision

The Republican administration argued the lawsuit was premature as Trump’s rules weren’t yet implemented. Judge Casper disagreed, stating the Constitution grants the authority to regulate elections to states and Congress, not the President. Casper, appointed by former President Barack Obama, wrote that the Constitution does not give the President any specific powers over elections.

Trump’s order proposed several changes including:

• Requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration.
• Discarding mail ballots arriving after Election Day, even if postmarked by then.
• Penalizing states that fail to comply by withholding federal grants.

Responses from State Attorneys

New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed gratitude for the court’s decision, stating it blocks Trump’s unconstitutional attempt to control elections. California Attorney General Rob Bonta reaffirmed the constitutional principle that states and Congress set election rules, vowing to continue defending voting rights.

“Generations of Americans fought tirelessly for the right to vote, and we honor their legacy by protecting that right against anyone who tries to undermine it,” said James.

In response, the White House, through spokeswoman Abigail Jackson, stated that Trump’s executive order aims to lawfully protect elections and expressed confidence in eventually implementing it. Trump’s administration can appeal the ruling.

Ongoing Legislative Effort and Challenges

Trump is also pursuing voting changes through Congress, pushing the SAVE America Act, which mandates proof of citizenship for voting. The Act passed the House but is stalled in the Senate. Trump has considered removing the filibuster blocking the legislation.

The executive order faced multiple legal challenges, including a separate case in Washington, D.C., where another judge barred requiring documentary proof of citizenship for military personnel.

Complexities of Proof-of-Citizenship Requirements

Implementing proof-of-citizenship for voting encounters complications. A University of Maryland study found 21.3 million eligible voters lack easy access to citizenship documents, including passports and birth certificates.

Acquiring these documents can be costly and time-consuming, while married women may need additional documentation. In Kansas, a similar requirement blocked more than 31,000 eligible voter registrations before courts halted it.

Despite assertions of widespread noncitizen voting, it’s rare, and violating citizenship attestations on registration forms is a felony.

Supreme Court Case on Mail Ballots

The Supreme Court is set to decide on whether mail ballots must arrive by Election Day. This ruling could affect 14 states allowing grace periods if ballots are postmarked by Election Day.