A federal judge on Friday blocked President Donald Trump’s attempt to overhaul elections in the U.S., siding with a group of Democratic state attorneys general who challenged the effort as unconstitutional.
Trump’s March 25 executive order sought to compel officials to require documentary proof of citizenship for everyone registering to vote for federal elections, accept only mailed ballots received by Election Day and condition federal election grant funding on states adhering to the new ballot deadline.
The group of attorneys general said the directive “usurps the States’ constitutional power and seeks to amend election law by fiat.” The White House has defended the order as “standing up for free, fair and honest elections” and called proof of citizenship a “commonsense” requirement.
In April, Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford co-led a coalition of 19 attorneys general in filing a lawsuit challenging the president’s unlawful and unconstitutional executive order.Â
“Today’s court decision is a win for democracy and for state sovereignty,” said AG Ford. “The Trump administration’s unconstitutional and unlawful attempt to seize control of elections from the states is an attack on democracy and the right to vote. Our state’s elections are free, fair and safe, and I will fight back against any attempt to illegally interfere with our elections for political theater.”Â
Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts said in Friday's order that the states had a likelihood of success as to their legal challenges.
“The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” Casper wrote.
Casper also noted that, when it comes to citizenship, “there is no dispute (nor could there be) that U.S. citizenship is required to vote in federal elections and the federal voter registration forms require attestation of citizenship.” Casper cited arguments made by the states that the requirements would “burden the States with significant efforts and substantial costs” to update procedures.
Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar released this statement:
“The federal court’s decision to block this executive order on elections is a win for voters and for our democracy. The Constitution grants states the power to administer elections, and the president’s attempt to commandeer that power had to be stopped. I’m proud that Nevada played a leading role in this lawsuit, and grateful to the team that made this victory possible,” said Secretary Aguilar.
“I will always stand up for the rights of every eligible voter and fight back against any effort to disenfranchise Nevadans. This decision from the court goes to show that the rule of law applies to everyone in our democracy, including the president. No one person can reshape our democracy on a whim. Our democratic process has stood the test of time, and Nevada is proudly on the frontlines defending it.”
(The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
