Federal Judge Permanently Blocks Trump Administration from Implementing Voter Registration Executive Order
WASHINGTON, D.C. – A federal judge today issued a permanent injunction blocking the Trump administration from implementing Section 2(a) of President Trump's March 25 executive order that sought to impose documentary proof-of-citizenship requirements on the federal voter registration form. The ruling represents a major victory in the ongoing lawsuit brought by Elias Law Group attorneys representing the Democratic National Committee (DNC), Democratic Governors Association (DGA), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DCCC), Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
In April, the Court granted a preliminary injunction blocking multiple provisions of the Executive Order. Today's ruling makes that injunction permanent with respect to Section 2(a), ruling that the President clearly exceeded his constitutional authority when he signed this Executive Order.
"Today's permanent injunction is a resounding victory for democracy and the separation of powers," said Elias Law Group partner Aria Branch. "The Court has definitively ruled that President Trump lacks the constitutional authority to unilaterally change federal election laws. We are proud to represent the leadership of the Democratic Party, who stood up to fight this power grab and protect free and fair elections."
"This permanent injunction sends an unmistakable message: the President cannot bypass Congress and the states to rewrite our election laws," said Elias Law Group partner Lali Madduri. "We are proud to stand alongside our clients in challenging this unconstitutional Executive Order and ensuring that millions of eligible voters will not be disenfranchised by a new documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement on the federal voter registration form. Today's ruling proves that when we fight back against presidential overreach in court, we can win.”
In an 81-page opinion, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly held that the President lacks the authority to direct changes to federal election procedures, powers that the Constitution reserves exclusively to Congress and the states.
"The first question presented in these consolidated cases is whether the President, acting unilaterally, may direct changes to federal election procedures," Judge Kollar-Kotelly wrote. "Because our Constitution assigns responsibility for election regulation to the States and to Congress, this Court holds that the President lacks the authority to direct such changes."
Click HERE to read the full opinion.
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