US District Judge Rules Against Trump's Proof of Citizenship Voting Requirement
A US federal judge has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump's attempt to require proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms, ruling that such a mandate is unconstitutional. The decision, issued by Washington DC-based Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, sides with Democratic and civil rights groups that challenged the executive order in court.
The ruling bars the US Election Assistance Commission from adding the proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter form, effectively preventing it from going into effect. Instead, the judge has granted a partial summary judgment, stating that the plaintiffs – including the Democratic National Committee and civil rights groups – have proven their case and can now move forward with further challenges.
The order comes as part of a broader legal battle between Trump's administration and various opponents who argue that his executive orders aimed at securing US elections are unconstitutional. Among these ongoing lawsuits is one filed by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, seeking to reject the president's executive order. Other states like Washington and Oregon have also joined the fight, filing separate lawsuits against similar provisions.
The outcome represents a significant victory for Democrats and civil rights groups, who argue that Trump's executive orders are an overreach of presidential power and an attempt to undermine the democratic process. The ruling highlights the constitutional limits on federal authority in matters related to voting qualifications and election procedures, which Judge Kollar-Kotelly has explicitly stated.
In her opinion, the judge emphasized that the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government is a fundamental aspect of US democracy. By ruling against Trump's order, she reinforced this principle, ensuring that any changes to federal voter registration forms or election procedures are subject to careful consideration by Congress and state legislatures – rather than being unilaterally imposed by the president.
The decision sets the stage for further legal challenges to Trump's election-related executive orders, as plaintiffs continue to push back against what they see as an attempt to systematically disenfranchise certain groups of voters.
A US federal judge has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump's attempt to require proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms, ruling that such a mandate is unconstitutional. The decision, issued by Washington DC-based Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, sides with Democratic and civil rights groups that challenged the executive order in court.
The ruling bars the US Election Assistance Commission from adding the proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter form, effectively preventing it from going into effect. Instead, the judge has granted a partial summary judgment, stating that the plaintiffs – including the Democratic National Committee and civil rights groups – have proven their case and can now move forward with further challenges.
The order comes as part of a broader legal battle between Trump's administration and various opponents who argue that his executive orders aimed at securing US elections are unconstitutional. Among these ongoing lawsuits is one filed by 19 Democratic state attorneys general, seeking to reject the president's executive order. Other states like Washington and Oregon have also joined the fight, filing separate lawsuits against similar provisions.
The outcome represents a significant victory for Democrats and civil rights groups, who argue that Trump's executive orders are an overreach of presidential power and an attempt to undermine the democratic process. The ruling highlights the constitutional limits on federal authority in matters related to voting qualifications and election procedures, which Judge Kollar-Kotelly has explicitly stated.
In her opinion, the judge emphasized that the separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government is a fundamental aspect of US democracy. By ruling against Trump's order, she reinforced this principle, ensuring that any changes to federal voter registration forms or election procedures are subject to careful consideration by Congress and state legislatures – rather than being unilaterally imposed by the president.
The decision sets the stage for further legal challenges to Trump's election-related executive orders, as plaintiffs continue to push back against what they see as an attempt to systematically disenfranchise certain groups of voters.
. I mean, I get why Trump wanted proof of citizenship but it feels like a really heavy-handed move. Like, isn't voting for anyone's dream regardless of where you're from? 
And now we'll have to wait and see how this all plays out in the courts. Hopefully it doesn't lead to any voter suppression or anything 
. This whole thing is just so frustrating though...
! Like, can you even believe he was trying to do that?! It's so not fair to the citizens who wanna vote and stuff... This is a major win for democracy and all that jazz 
. I mean, Trump can't just go around making up laws willy-nilly, right? The separation of powers thingy is like, super important! 
So, now the states can focus on their own voter registration forms and election procedures, which is a total win for everyone 
. I'm totes rooting for the Democrats and civil rights groups on this one 
. Trump's gonna have to get creative if he wants to try and change voting laws again... good luck with that, Donny 
!
it's like, hello, everyone deserves to vote regardless of their background, right? 
, we gotta stick to the rules and all that jazz 
. I'm low-key loving this decision 
. it's okay to be scared or upset, but try not to lose faith in the process just yet 
. we've got this, America! 
like who needs proof of citizenship on a voter reg form? idk what trump's tryna achieve here, but i guess it's good the judge stopped him in his tracks 
... and what if someone's identity is already proven by being a registered voter? shouldn't that be enough? 
. i mean, can't you just trust that people are who they say they are? proof of citizenship is like, a fundamental right, not something you need to prove all the time 
. and what's next, requiring us to show our birth certificate or something? it's just a slippery slope, my friends 
.
. There will probably be more court battles ahead, and I'm not sure how it'll all shake out 
so like literally every time Trump tries to be all controlling and rule-y, a judge has to come along and be all "nah, you can't do that". i mean, it's not like he didn't see this one coming 
. But seriously, this ruling is a big deal for democracy and making sure our elections are fair for everyone... fingers crossed these other lawsuits get resolved too 
. what's next? ID requirements for everything? 
.
. And what's next? Is he gonna try to change the rules on how we pay taxes or something? 
. Anywayz, I'm low-key impressed by Judge Kollar-Kotelly for standing up to him like that 
. It's weird, though - my grandma used to vote every election day without having to show her ID, and she still lived in the same house her whole life 
. Back then, we trusted our fellow citizens to be honest and decent enough to not cheat on their ballots 
so like trump is trying to make ppl show their citizenship papers on the voting forms but judge ruled it out saying its unconstitutional can u believe it?! 
and now thats all being thrown out cuz trump is being a drama queen