A federal judge has permanently barred the Trump administration from implementing a requirement for voters to show documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper issued the ruling in Boston, converting a previous preliminary injunction into a permanent ban. Judge Casper stated that the Constitution grants states and Congress the authority to regulate elections and that Trump's requirements violated the separation of powers.
The executive order in question included provisions that would have required documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, prevented mail ballots from being counted if they arrived after Election Day, and imposed penalties on states that did not comply.
New York Attorney General Letitia James expressed gratitude for the ruling, emphasizing the importance of protecting voting rights. Requests for comments from the White House and the Department of Justice were not immediately returned.
This ruling follows a series of legal challenges against Trump's election-related executive orders. In response to the difficulties of implementing the proof-of-citizenship requirement, Trump is advocating for legislation in Congress to establish such a mandate. The SAVE America Act has passed the House but is stalled in the Senate. Trump has indicated he will not sign other legislation until Congress addresses his proof of citizenship requirement.
Additionally, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to issue a decision regarding mail ballot deadlines, which could affect voting rules in 14 states.