Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Voter Registration Changes
A federal judge has halted President Donald Trump’s initiative aimed at securing election integrity by mandating proof of U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms. The judge ruled that Trump “does not have the authority to direct such changes.”
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Kollen Koller Kotelly announced her ruling, siding with several Democratic and civil rights organizations that had sued the Trump administration after the president signed an executive order in March titled “Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of America’s Elections,” as reported by the Associated Press.
In her decision, Koller Kotelly, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, argued that requiring citizenship verification is an “unconstitutional violation of the separation of powers.” She emphasized that the U.S. Constitution does not provide the president with a direct role in establishing voter eligibility or overseeing federal election procedures.
“Since the Constitution assigns election regulation duties to the states and Congress, this court concludes that the president cannot authorize such changes,” Koller Kotelly stated.
Under the Trump administration’s executive order, the U.S. has faced criticism for not enforcing essential election protections, with countries like India and Brazil linking voter identification to biometric data. In contrast, the U.S. continues to depend on “self-certification of citizenship.”
An excerpt from the executive order reads:
Free, fair, and honest elections, free from fraud, error, and suspicion, are crucial for maintaining a constitutional republic. It’s vital that Americans’ votes are properly counted and not diluted by illegal actions.
State governments are expected to uphold elections in line with federal laws safeguarding the right to vote while preventing illegal activities, discrimination, and errors. However, the U.S. does not sufficiently enforce federal requirements—such as disallowing votes cast after Election Day or registration by noncitizens.
The order also specified that within 30 days of the executive order’s issuance, the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) would need to take steps to ensure that proof of U.S. citizenship is required on the National Postal Voter Registration Form.
Koller Kotelly’s ruling followed her agreement to partially grant preliminary injunctions requested by three groups of plaintiffs in April, according to CBS News.
Reportedly, Koller Kotelly has blocked the administration from implementing “two provisions of the executive order,” reinforcing her decision from April.
