A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred the Trump administration from enforcing most provisions of an executive order that sought to reshape U.S. election rules, including a requirement that voters provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote.
U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper, based in Boston, ruled that the president lacks constitutional authority to impose such requirements through executive action, converting a preliminary injunction issued last year into a permanent ban.
Ruling
In her decision, Judge Casper rejected arguments from the administration that the lawsuit, brought by Democratic state attorneys general, was premature because the rules had not yet been implemented.
Instead, she found that the Constitution clearly assigns authority over elections to states and Congress, not the president.
“The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” Casper wrote, concluding that the executive order violated the separation of powers.
Order
The executive order, signed by President Donald Trump months after beginning his second term, proposed several major changes to election administration.
Among them were requirements that voters show documentary proof of U.S. citizenship when registering, a ban on counting mail ballots that arrive after Election Day even if postmarked on time, and penalties for states that failed to comply, including the potential loss of federal funding.
Most of those provisions are now permanently blocked.
Response
New York Attorney General Letitia James praised the ruling, calling the order an unconstitutional attempt to take control of elections.
“Generations of Americans fought tirelessly for the right to vote, and we honor their legacy by protecting that right against anyone who tries to undermine it,” James said in a statement.
The White House and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Legal
The ruling marks the latest setback for Trump’s election-related executive orders. Last fall, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the administration from adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form. That same judge later barred the Defense Department from requiring proof of citizenship for military voters.
Trump has since signed a second elections executive order seeking to create a national voter list and further limit mail-in voting. That directive is also facing multiple legal challenges.
Congress
Acknowledging the limits of executive authority, Trump has urged Congress to pass legislation mandating proof of citizenship for voting. The SAVE America Act has passed the Republican-controlled House but remains stalled in the Senate due to the filibuster.
Trump has publicly called for eliminating the filibuster to move the legislation forward and on Wednesday abruptly canceled plans to sign a bipartisan housing bill, saying he would not sign legislation until Congress acts on the voting measure.
Outlook
Separately, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a ruling soon on whether states may count mail ballots that arrive after Election Day. A decision could immediately affect voting rules in 14 states that currently allow ballots postmarked by Election Day to be counted days or weeks later.
As legal challenges continue, the future of election administration remains a central issue ahead of upcoming midterm elections.
FAQs
What did the federal judge block?
She blocked enforcement of Trump’s election executive order.
Was proof of citizenship for voting halted?
Yes, the requirement was permanently barred.
Why did the judge rule against Trump?
She said election authority belongs to states and Congress.
Can Congress still require proof of citizenship?
Yes, but only through legislation passed by Congress.
Is the issue likely to reach the Supreme Court?
Related voting rules are already under Supreme Court review.
