Sacramento, California– A federal judge on Friday blocked some federal agencies from requesting citizenship status when distributing voter registration forms, the latest blow to a wide-ranging group of voters. Executive order Regarding the election signed by President Donald Trump last year.
US District Judge Colleen Kollar Cutelli in Washington ruled that the Constitution’s separation of powers, which gives states and to some extent Congress the power to set election rules, is at the heart of the case.
“Our Constitution simply does not permit the President to impose unilateral changes to federal election procedures,” the judge, appointed by former President Bill Clinton, wrote.
Specifically, Kollar Koteli permanently blocked two provisions of the law Executive order Which sought to impose rules on proof of nationality.
Its decision said agencies would not be allowed to “assess citizenship” before submitting a federal voter registration form to people enrolled in public assistance programs. She also said the Secretary of Defense cannot request documentary proof of citizenship when military personnel register to vote or request a ballot.
“Our democracy works best when all Americans can participate, including members of our military and their families living abroad,” said Danielle Lange, a voting rights expert at the Campaign Legal Center, which is representing the plaintiffs in the case. “Today’s ruling removes a very real threat to the freedom to vote of military families overseas and upholds the separation of powers.”
The White House said Trump’s executive order was intended to ensure “election security” and said Friday’s ruling would not be the final word.
“Ensuring that only private citizens vote in our elections is a common-sense measure that everyone should be able to support,” White House press secretary Abigail Jackson said. “This is not the final say on this matter and the administration is looking forward to a final victory on this issue.”
It was the specter of non-citizens voting and distorting the elections Central strategy For Trump and Republicans during the 2024 campaign, Republicans in Congress are keeping the pressure on Proposals This requires proof of citizenship to register to vote. research, Even among Republican state officialsVoting by non-citizens has been shown It is a rare problem.
Friday’s ruling is among several setbacks to the president’s executive order, which has faced multiple lawsuits. In October, Kolar Koteli Management blocked From adding documentary proof of citizenship requirements to the federal voter registration form. Separate lawsuits by Prosecutors of a democratic state And by Oregon and Washingtonwhich relies heavily on mail-in ballots, blocked various parts of Trump’s order.