Nineteen Democrat-led states filed a lawsuit Thursday against President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring proof of citizenship to vote.
In the lawsuit, attorneys general from 19 states called to block provisions of Trump’s executive order, alleging the president is attempting to “seize control of elections” in an unconstitutional manner. The lawsuit was filed by Arizona, California, Connecticut, Colorado, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.
“The Elections EO violates the Constitution. It interferes with States’ inherent sovereignty and their constitutional power to regulate the time, place, and manner of federal elections,” the lawsuit states.
“It also usurps Congress’s powers to legislate (under the Elections Clause) and to appropriate (under the Spending Clause) because Congress has not chosen to implement the changes the President seeks to impose by decree,” the lawsuit said. “The critical funds at issue have in large measure already been appropriated by Congress.”
On March 25, Trump signed an executive order to “protect the integrity” of U.S. elections, mandating voter “citizenship verification [in every state]” and banning foreign nationals from interfering in U.S. elections. The order also directed attorneys general to collaborate with state election officials to ensure compliance, placing conditions on federal funding to whether states require voter ID.
“Free, fair, and honest elections unmarred by fraud, errors, or suspicion are fundamental to maintaining our constitutional Republic. The right of American citizens to have their votes properly counted and tabulated, without illegal dilution, is vital to determining the rightful winner of an election,” Trump wrote.
Over the years, states like California, Oregon, New Mexico, Minnesota, Illinois, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Hawaii and Maryland have enacted laws that no longer require documentation to vote.
According to the lawsuit, the attorneys general argue that the order “sows confusion and sets the stage for chaos,” as states will need to allocate staff and resources for new training, testing, voter education and coordination, or risk losing federal funding.
“Donald Trump’s Executive Order to seize control of our elections, intimidate voters, and attack Americans’ right to vote is unconstitutional and undemocratic. I’m suing to stop the President’s authoritarian power grab and protect people’s right to vote and our democracy,” New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote on X.
(Featured Image Media Credit: Screen Capture/CSPAN)
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