A federal judge has issued a ruling to halt President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at creating a federal voter list and restricting mail ballot recipients. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, appointed by former President Barack Obama, ruled in favor of nearly two dozen states that challenged the order, stating it unconstitutionally violates the separation of powers. This ruling is applicable to the upcoming midterm election cycle.
The plaintiffs argued that only states and Congress have the authority to establish election rules, a claim the judge supported. This ruling follows another decision that blocked a separate executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. The Trump administration contended that the lawsuits were premature and lacked legal standing under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Judge Talwani noted the urgency of the matter due to imminent election deadlines, stating that delaying judicial review could cause significant hardship. Trump's executive order, issued after a voting reform bill stalled in Congress, aimed to create a list of eligible voters and limit mail ballots to those individuals. Critics, including election officials and postal unions, expressed concerns about potential chaos and the feasibility of enforcing such measures.
The lawsuit was initiated by Democratic attorneys general from 22 states and the District of Columbia, along with support from Pennsylvania's Democratic governor. They argued that the executive order would impose financial burdens on election officials and instill fear of prosecution. A separate lawsuit in Washington, D.C., was deemed premature by another federal judge, as the order had not yet been implemented.