“Judge blocks Trump order to require proof of citizenship for voting”
A federal judge has ruled against a Trump administration executive order that would have required individuals to provide proof of U.S. citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections. The decision represents a significant legal setback for the president’s broader push to tighten federal election laws through unilateral executive action.
Background: Last month, former President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing sweeping changes to federal election procedures. Among the most controversial elements was a directive to condition voter registration on proof of citizenship—a measure that sparked immediate legal challenges from civil rights and voting rights organizations. The order also included provisions to withhold federal election funding from states that did not comply.
The Ruling: U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a 120-page opinion blocking the administration’s proposed changes. She ruled that requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote runs counter to the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 (NVRA), a federal statute designed to streamline voter registration and protect access to the ballot.
“The President has no constitutional power over election regulation that would support this unilateral exercise of authority,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote. “The Constitution vests that power in the States and Congress alone.” The judge also emphasized that when Congress passed the NVRA, it explicitly considered and rejected a citizenship documentation requirement, determining that it would be inconsistent with the law’s intent to expand voter participation.
In her ruling, Kollar-Kotelly also barred the federal Election Assistance Commission (EAC) from enforcing the order’s funding penalties on states that decline to implement the citizenship verification requirement.
Legislative Efforts Continue: The court’s decision comes as Congress takes up its own debate over voter eligibility. The House of Representatives recently passed the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act, which would require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for federal voter registration. Supporters argue the measure would help prevent illegal voting by noncitizens—an occurrence that studies have shown to be extremely rare and already prohibited by law.
Looking Ahead: The ruling reaffirms the limits of executive authority in the regulation of federal elections, underscoring the Constitution’s allocation of such powers to Congress and the states. The decision is expected to be appealed, potentially setting up another major legal battle over the balance of power in American election law.
Rewritten. Source article posted here: https://www.axios.com/2025/04/24/trump-order-voting-proof-of-citizenship-blocked
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