Federal Judges Block Trump's Voter Citizenship Proof Order, Citing Lack of Authority
Federal judges blocked President Trump's executive order for citizenship proof on voter forms, ruling he lacks authority and siding with civil rights groups.
Overview
Federal judges have blocked President Trump's executive order that sought to require proof of U.S. citizenship on federal voter registration forms, halting its implementation.
The rulings determined that President Trump does not possess the constitutional authority to unilaterally mandate citizenship verification for voter registration.
Judges sided with plaintiffs including LULAC, the Democratic National Committee, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund, who challenged the executive order.
The courts emphasized that only Congress and individual states hold the power to regulate federal elections, not the executive branch.
These judicial decisions permanently bar the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from implementing the controversial citizenship proof requirement on federal voter forms.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources frame the story by emphasizing the unconstitutionality and negative impacts of Trump's executive order. They highlight the judge's ruling as a "blow" to the administration, underscore the rarity of non-citizen voting, and detail the "chaos" and "hurdles" similar state-level requirements have caused, collectively portraying the order as an unwarranted and problematic overreach.
Sources (10)
FAQ
Federal judges ruled that President Trump lacks constitutional authority to unilaterally require proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, emphasizing that only Congress and states may regulate federal elections.
The plaintiffs who challenged the order included LULAC, the Democratic National Committee, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund.
The executive order sought to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship on the national mail-in voter registration form and for officials to record details about the citizenship documents presented.
The executive order directed the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to implement the requirement for citizenship proof on federal voter registration forms, but the courts have permanently barred the commission from enforcing this rule.
The courts emphasized that regulation of federal elections is the responsibility of Congress and individual states, not the executive branch, and that the president cannot unilaterally impose such voting requirements.
History
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