A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has put a hold on a significant part of President Trump’s executive order aimed at changing voting and election processes. This order, issued on March 25, has faced criticism for potentially disenfranchising millions of voters and overstepping presidential authority.
The executive order requires that anyone applying to register to vote must provide proof of U.S. citizenship. This change would alter the national mail voter registration form, which currently allows applicants to simply attest to their citizenship under penalty of perjury.
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled against the implementation of this requirement, stating that the Constitution gives Congress and the states, not the President, the power to regulate federal elections. Her opinion highlighted that Congress is already discussing a bill called the SAVE Act, which would also require proof of citizenship for voter registration. However, the bill, recently passed by the GOP-led House of Representatives, faces challenges in the Senate, where Democrats are expected to block it.
Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling also paused another part of Trump’s order that would mandate government agencies to check citizenship before providing voter registration forms to individuals enrolled in public assistance programs. This decision is seen as a victory for voter registration advocates and Democrats who are contesting Trump’s executive order through several lawsuits.
While some parts of the executive order are still being debated in court, including a provision that would withhold federal funds from states that accept late mail-in ballots, Kollar-Kotelly noted that requests to pause those sections were premature.
The judge’s decision is part of a larger legal battle involving multiple lawsuits against Trump’s order. Critics argue that requiring documentary proof of citizenship could create barriers for many eligible voters. The executive order specifies only a few acceptable documents, such as passports, leaving uncertainty about whether birth certificates would be accepted. This poses a problem since only about half of American citizens possess a passport.
Currently, the national voter registration form, established by a 1993 law, relies on individuals to affirm their citizenship. While there have been rare instances of noncitizens voting, Trump’s claims of widespread noncitizen voting during the 2024 election have not been substantiated.
As the legal proceedings continue, the implications of this executive order and the court’s ruling will likely shape the future of voter registration and election integrity in the United States.