A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing its executive order requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship for voters using federal registration forms — setting the stage for a major legal fight over election integrity.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that President Trump overstepped his constitutional authority by issuing the March 25 order, stating that only Congress and the states have the power to regulate voter registration procedures under the Constitution.
“The first question presented in these consolidated cases is whether the president, acting unilaterally, may direct changes to federal election procedures,” the judge wrote. “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.”
The ruling permanently bars the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) from adding the citizenship proof requirement to federal forms, though additional portions of Trump’s executive order remain under review.
The lawsuit was brought by left-wing groups including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Democratic National Committee, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund. They argued the executive order unfairly burdens voters and violates longstanding constitutional norms.
The Trump administration, however, is firing back and plans to appeal.
“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. “This is so commonsense that only the Democrat Party would file a lawsuit against it. We expect to be vindicated by a higher court.”
Trump’s executive order, issued in March, requires all individuals registering to vote to provide government-issued documentation proving their U.S. citizenship. It also instructs the attorney general to enter into data-sharing agreements with state election authorities to flag election fraud, and conditions federal election grants on states complying with those federal safeguards.
“This is about stopping fraud, pure and simple,” Trump said at the March 25 signing. “We’re going to make sure that only Americans are voting in American elections. Period.”
The White House has hinted that additional measures are coming. “There are other steps that we will be taking in the coming weeks,” Trump said when the order was first introduced.
This is the second court to block the measure. In June, another federal judge paused the order in a separate challenge brought by Democratic attorneys general.
While Friday’s ruling is a setback for the Trump administration’s broader election integrity push, the legal battle is far from over. The White House is expected to appeal the decision, potentially setting the issue up for a showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court.
The post Federal Judge Blocks Trump’s Citizenship Proof Order on Voter Registration Forms appeared first on Real News Now.
About Author
