Federal Judge Permanently Blocks Trump

Federal Judge Permanently Blocks Trump Administration’s Proof-of-Citizenship Voting Requirement

A federal judge has permanently blocked a Trump administration executive order that sought to require proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration, marking another legal setback for the administration’s election-related policies.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper ruled in favor of a coalition of 19 states that challenged the order, concluding that the president does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally change how states conduct federal elections.

In her decision, Casper stated that while the Constitution grants the president executive powers and the responsibility to enforce federal laws, it does not provide direct authority over election administration. She emphasized that election procedures are largely governed by states under the Constitution’s Elections Clause.

The judge noted that presidents have no direct role in selecting presidential electors and cannot control state officials responsible for carrying out election-related duties. According to the ruling, authority over election processes remains primarily in the hands of individual states unless Congress enacts legislation establishing nationwide requirements.

The executive order, signed by President Donald Trump in March, would have required individuals registering to vote by mail to provide proof of citizenship. It also proposed withholding certain federal funds from states that count properly postmarked mail ballots arriving after Election Day, a practice permitted under the laws of several states.

A coalition of attorneys general from 19 states filed suit shortly after the order was issued. The states included California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin.

The ruling represents the third major court decision to reject key provisions of the March executive order. Earlier this week, another federal judge struck down a separate directive that would have created a federal database containing voter information, including Social Security numbers, citizenship status, and other sensitive personal data.

The latest decision underscores the continuing legal battle over election administration and voting requirements, issues that remain at the center of national debate as future federal elections approach.