A federal judge in Washington, D.C., ruled on Friday in favor of civil rights groups that had challenged the Trump administration’s executive order mandating proof of citizenship for voter registration.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Koller-Kotelly emphasized that under the Constitution, the states and Congress hold the responsibility for regulating elections, stating that “the President has no authority to direct such changes.”
She elaborated, explaining that the distribution of powers regarding federal elections between Congress and the states may seem counterintuitive but is actually a result of careful compromises made by the Constitution’s framers.
Koller-Kotelly also concluded that the U.S. Election Assistance Commission is permanently prohibited from adding proof of citizenship requirements to federal voter registration.
According to a statement from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), reported by the Kyodo newspaper, “The court’s decision confirms what we have long held: the president cannot rewrite election law to impose burdensome filing rules that lock out countless Americans from the ballot box.”
The ACLU’s statement continued, noting that “This executive order was an attempt to overstep its power by circumventing the Constitution’s clear division of power that sets election rules for Congress and the states. Our democracy is strongest when all eligible voters can register and vote without expensive or unnecessary requirements.”
The lawsuit was brought by several groups, including the Women Voters Education Fund and the NAACP, among others.
In response, White House Press Secretary Abigail Jackson announced, as reported by The New York Times, that the administration plans to appeal the ruling.
Jackson stated, “President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to ensure that only American citizens vote in American elections.”
Trump’s executive order from March acknowledged that state governments manage elections but claimed that “the United States has not adequately enforced federal election requirements” regarding counting ballots after Election Day or preventing noncitizens from voting.
Voter registration applications would now require proof of citizenship, like a passport or state ID. Critics argued that this order could disenfranchise many voters.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) expressed concerns in April, stating, “The president does not control voting laws. Each state manages its own voting regulations, and while Congress can regulate, it rarely follows the president’s lead.”
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) shared his experiences with voter suppression in Georgia, mentioning that he had to fight in court to secure his victory, illustrating the ongoing issues surrounding voting rights.
