A federal judge has ruled that the Trump administration cannot enforce an executive order requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship on federal voter registration forms. The decision, issued by U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, emphasizes that the Constitution assigns responsibility for election regulation to the states and Congress, not the president. The administration defended the measure as a ‘commonsense’ effort to protect election integrity, but the ruling blocks the implementation of the requirement, with the lawsuit continuing as the judge examines other parts of Trump’s order.
White House officials have defended the executive order as a lawful measure to ensure only American citizens are casting ballots in American elections. A spokesperson for the White House stated that the president acted within his legal powers and expects to be vindicated by a higher court. The judge’s ruling, however, underscores the judicial system’s role in interpreting constitutional boundaries, as it holds that the president lacks the authority to direct changes to federal election procedures.
The executive order, signed in March by President Trump, required anyone registering to, vote provide government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship. It also directed the attorney general to enter into information-sharing agreements with state election officials to identify cases of election fraud. Despite previous attempts to block the order, including a preliminary injunction in April and another federal judge issuing a similar ruling in June, the administration continues to assert the requirement is lawful.
The plaintiffs in the case, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Democratic National Committee, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund, argued that the Constitution assigns no direct role to the president in either domain. The ruling permanently blocks the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from adding the requirement to the federal voter form, but the lawsuit continues as the judge examines other parts of Trump’s order.