A federal judge has permanently blocked several key provisions of President Donald Trump’s 2025 anti-voting executive order, ruling that the order exceeded the president’s authority. U.S. District Judge Denise Casper's decision makes earlier temporary blocks permanent, providing relief for Democratic-led states that challenged the order. The blocked provisions included new proof of citizenship requirements for federal voter registration forms, restrictions on military and overseas voters, and measures to reject ballots postmarked by Election Day but arriving later.
The ruling also prevents the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) from withholding federal election funds from states that do not comply with the executive order’s requirements. The court found that the challenged provisions violated the separation of powers under the U.S. Constitution and were inconsistent with the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA) and the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA).
Casper noted that disqualifying ballots arriving after Election Day would disproportionately affect military voters, elderly voters, and those with disabilities. The ruling is part of ongoing legal challenges against Trump’s executive order, which has faced multiple court losses.