Federal judge blocks Trump order requiring citizenship proof on federal voter registration forms
In a significant legal ruling, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly has determined that the Trump administration’s executive order mandating documented proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration forms is unconstitutional. This decision, issued on Friday, emphasizes that the president does not possess the authority to unilaterally alter federal election procedures, as such responsibilities are constitutionally assigned to the states and Congress. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by various plaintiffs, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Democratic National Committee, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund, who argued that the executive order infringed upon their rights and the electoral process.
The executive order, signed by President Trump in March, aimed to enhance election integrity by requiring individuals registering to vote to provide government-issued proof of citizenship. It also sought to establish information-sharing agreements between the attorney general and state election officials to identify instances of election fraud. Despite the administration’s defense of the order as a lawful measure to protect elections, the judge’s ruling has permanently blocked the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from implementing this requirement on federal voter registration forms. This ruling follows a series of legal challenges against the executive order, including a preliminary injunction issued by Kollar-Kotelly in April and a similar ruling from another federal judge in June.
In response to the ruling, White House Deputy Press Secretary Abigail Jackson asserted that President Trump acted within his legal rights and expressed confidence that a higher court would reverse the decision. The ongoing legal battle highlights the contentious nature of voter registration laws in the United States, with various states and political groups advocating for stricter identification requirements while others argue that such measures disproportionately disenfranchise voters. As the case unfolds, the implications of this ruling could have lasting effects on the administration’s efforts to reshape voting regulations and the broader landscape of electoral integrity in the country.
Related articles:
– Link 1
– Link 2
A federal judge has ruled the Trump administration cannot enforce an executive order requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship on
federal voter registration forms,
a decision the administration defends as a lawful effort to protect election integrity.
U.S. District Judge
Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., on Friday found the requirement unconstitutional, writing that the president “lacks the authority to direct such changes.”
“The first question presented in these consolidated cases is whether
the president
, acting unilaterally, may direct changes to federal election procedures,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote in her opinion.
“Because
our Constitution
assigns responsibility for election regulation to the States and to Congress, this Court holds that the President lacks the authority to direct such changes.”
CALIFORNIA REPUBLICANS LAUNCH VOTER ID BALLOT PUSH, NEED 875K SIGNATURES BY DEADLINE
However, a spokesperson for the White House told Fox News Digital Trump acted within his legal powers.
“President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to ensure only American citizens are casting ballots in American elections,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in an email. “This is so commonsense that only the Democrat Party would file a lawsuit against it.
“We expect to be vindicated by a higher court.”
The judge sided with the plaintiffs — including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Democratic National Committee and the League of Women Voters Education Fund — arguing the Constitution “assigns no direct role to the president in either domain.”
NEARLY ALL REPUBLICAN AGS ADD FIREPOWER TO TRUMP’S BIRTHRIGHT CITIZENSHIP PUSH
The ruling says the U.S. Election Assistance Commission is permanently blocked from adding the requirement to the federal voter form, according to The Associated Press.
The lawsuit will continue as the judge examines other parts of Trump’s order, according to The Associated Press.
In March,
President Trump
signed an executive order mandating that anyone registering to vote provide government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship.
The order also directed the attorney general to enter into information-sharing agreements with state election officials to identify cases of election fraud or other election law violations and conditioned federal election-related funds on states complying with federal election integrity measures.
TRUMP ADMIN BLOCKS CITIZENSHIP FOR NON-CITIZEN VOTERS
“There are other steps that we will be taking in the coming weeks,” Trump said just before signing the order. “We think we’ll be able to end up getting fair elections.”
Kollar-Kotelly previously issued a preliminary injunction in April, and another federal judge blocked the same March 25 executive order in June after a separate challenge brought by Democratic state attorneys general, The Associated Press reported.
The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
Eric
Eric is a seasoned journalist covering US Politics news.
