A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has blocked enforcement of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump that sought to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship on the federal voter-registration form.
The Ruling
Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly held that the Constitution assigns authority over federal election regulation to Congress and the states — not to the president acting alone. “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,” she wrote. The ruling permanently bars the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from implementing the citizenship‐proof mandate.
Background
In March 2025, President Trump signed an executive order aimed at overhauling federal election procedures. Among other provisions, the order directed that anyone registering to vote using the federal form must provide government-issued proof of citizenship. The order also linked federal election funding to state compliance with these reforms and required information-sharing agreements between federal and state election officials.
Legal Implications
The decision is a major legal setback for the administration’s election-integrity initiative. Civil-rights groups including the Democratic National Committee, the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), and the League of Women Voters Education Fund brought suit, arguing the directive violated the separation of powers and would disenfranchise lawful voters.
What Comes Next
While the citizenship-proof requirement is blocked, other elements of the executive order remain under legal review. The case will continue as the court examines whether other directives within the order are lawful.
