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Judge Permanently Blocks Trump Order Requiring Proof of Citizenship on Federal Voter Form

The court found the Constitution reserves federal election rules to Congress or the states.

Overview

  • U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued an 81-page ruling that permanently enjoins the Election Assistance Commission from adding a documentary citizenship requirement to the national mail voter registration form.
  • She concluded the President lacks unilateral authority to alter federal election procedures because that power rests with Congress and the states under the Constitution.
  • The decision targets Section 2(a) of Executive Order 14,248, signed March 25, which directed the EAC to require passports or similar documents as proof of citizenship for registration.
  • Democratic committees and civil-rights groups, including the League of Women Voters, LULAC, and the NAACP, brought the challenges and praised the ruling as protecting voter access.
  • The White House signaled it will appeal, and other provisions of the order—including a requirement that mail ballots be received by Election Day that the judge declined to block—remain under litigation.