Judge Blocks Trump's Election Overhaul, Citing Unconstitutionality

A federal judge issued a ruling on Friday that prevented President Donald Trump's attempt to change election procedures in the United States. The judge sided with a group of Democratic state attorneys-general who argued that the effort was unconstitutional.

The President's executive order, issued on March 25th, aimed to mandate documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration in federal elections. It also sought to only accept mailed ballots received by Election Day and to tie federal election grant funding to states' adherence to the new ballot deadline.

The attorneys-general contended that the directive overstepped the states' constitutional authority and attempted to alter election law through executive action. The White House defended the order, claiming it was intended to ensure free, fair, and honest elections, and that proof of citizenship was a common-sense requirement.

Judge Denise J. Casper of the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts stated in her order that the states had a strong likelihood of succeeding in their legal challenges. She emphasized that the Constitution does not grant the President specific powers over elections.

Judge Casper also pointed out that U.S. citizenship is a requirement for voting in federal elections, and that federal voter registration forms already require an attestation of citizenship. She also cited the states' arguments that the new requirements would impose significant burdens and costs on them to update their procedures.

The ruling is the second legal setback for Trump's election order. A previous ruling in Washington, D.C., had already blocked parts of the directive, including the proof-of-citizenship requirement for the federal voter registration form.

The order reflects Trump's long-standing concerns about elections. Following his initial victory in 2016, he falsely claimed that his popular vote total would have been higher without illegal votes. Since 2020, he has made false claims of widespread voter fraud to explain his loss to Joe Biden.

The order also sought to require states to exclude any mail-in or absentee ballots received after Election Day. Currently, a number of states accept mailed ballots received after Election Day if they are postmarked on or before that date.

Trump's order has received support from some Republican state election officials who believe it could reduce voter fraud and improve access to federal data for maintaining voter rolls. However, many legal experts argue that the order exceeds Trump's authority, as the Constitution grants states the power to set election procedures, with Congress having the authority to set rules for federal elections.