Federal Judge Blocks Trump Administration’s Proof Of Citizenship Requirement For Voter Registration

A federal judge in Boston has permanently blocked the Trump administration from enforcing key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order on election administration, including a requirement that voters provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

U.S. District Judge Denise Casper issued the ruling Wednesday, converting a preliminary injunction she entered last year into a permanent order preventing the administration from moving forward with most of the election-related directives.

The lawsuit was brought by a coalition of Democratic attorneys general who argued that the executive order exceeded presidential authority and improperly attempted to regulate elections without congressional approval.

The Trump administration had argued that the challenge was premature because the requirements had not yet been fully implemented. Casper rejected that argument.

“(The Constitution) does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” the judge wrote in her ruling.

The decision centers on the Constitution’s allocation of election authority to the states and Congress. Casper concluded that the executive order violated separation-of-powers principles by attempting to impose election requirements through executive action.

One of the most significant provisions blocked by the ruling would have required individuals registering to vote to provide documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.

The executive order also sought to prohibit states from counting mail ballots received after Election Day, even if they were postmarked on time, and proposed withholding certain federal funds from states that failed to comply with the new requirements.

The ruling prevents the administration from enforcing those provisions.

Supporters of the executive order argued that the measures were designed to strengthen election integrity and ensure that only eligible citizens participate in federal elections. Opponents contended that the requirements could create barriers for eligible voters and that election rules must be established through Congress or state governments rather than presidential action.

The decision marks another legal setback for the administration’s election agenda and is expected to be appealed. The case could ultimately advance to a federal appeals court and potentially the Supreme Court as the debate over federal election authority continues.