Federal Judge Thwarts Trump's Attempt to Block Non-Citizens from Voting
A US district judge has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump's efforts to require proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms. In a ruling that upholds the separation of powers, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly blocked the executive order, which aimed to bolster public confidence in elections by excluding non-citizens from voting.
The decision is a victory for Democratic and civil rights groups who challenged the Trump administration's directive as an unconstitutional infringement on state authority over election regulation. The judge ruled that the President lacks the power to direct changes in federal election procedures, particularly those related to setting qualifications for voting.
Kollar-Kotelly's opinion echoed her earlier statement when she granted a preliminary injunction on the issue, emphasizing that the Constitution assigns no direct role to the President in regulating federal election procedures. By striking down the proof-of-citizenship requirement, the judge effectively prohibits the US Election Assistance Commission from implementing the directive, which had been under consideration for the federal voter registration form.
The ruling comes as part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by the Democratic National Committee and civil rights groups, with further challenges to Trump's election executive order still pending. Other states have also joined forces in challenging the order, including Washington and Oregon, where nearly all voting is done through mailed ballots.
The White House has yet to comment on the ruling, but it marks a significant defeat for Trump's efforts to restrict voting rights and impose stricter citizenship requirements at the federal level.
A US district judge has dealt a significant blow to President Donald Trump's efforts to require proof of citizenship on federal voter registration forms. In a ruling that upholds the separation of powers, Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly blocked the executive order, which aimed to bolster public confidence in elections by excluding non-citizens from voting.
The decision is a victory for Democratic and civil rights groups who challenged the Trump administration's directive as an unconstitutional infringement on state authority over election regulation. The judge ruled that the President lacks the power to direct changes in federal election procedures, particularly those related to setting qualifications for voting.
Kollar-Kotelly's opinion echoed her earlier statement when she granted a preliminary injunction on the issue, emphasizing that the Constitution assigns no direct role to the President in regulating federal election procedures. By striking down the proof-of-citizenship requirement, the judge effectively prohibits the US Election Assistance Commission from implementing the directive, which had been under consideration for the federal voter registration form.
The ruling comes as part of an ongoing lawsuit brought by the Democratic National Committee and civil rights groups, with further challenges to Trump's election executive order still pending. Other states have also joined forces in challenging the order, including Washington and Oregon, where nearly all voting is done through mailed ballots.
The White House has yet to comment on the ruling, but it marks a significant defeat for Trump's efforts to restrict voting rights and impose stricter citizenship requirements at the federal level.
. newsflash: being president isn't about being a dictator, it's about working with congress and respecting the constitution. and btw, what's next? trying to cancel passports for people who don't agree with him? 
this whole thing is just another example of trump's attempt to undermine democracy and manipulate voters... and honestly, i'm kinda relieved that someone finally called him out on it 
! I mean, think about it, if they let the President just dictate how states should vote, that's like, totally undermining the whole democratic system 
. The whole point of having a democracy is to make sure everyone has an equal say, not just some people who happen to be born in the right place 
. I'm all for making sure people are eligible to vote, but you can't just strip it away from certain groups based on birthplace or anything like that 
. It's all about equality and fairness, you know? 
especially for non-citizens who are already contributing so much to our society through taxes and whatnot. the judge was totally right though, it's a huge overreach of executive power 
we need to make sure that voting is accessible to everyone, regardless of their citizenship status. it's all about democracy, bro 
! So basically what just happened was that Donald Trump tried to sneak in some voter ID shenanigans without the states being on board 
, but some super smart judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly put the kibosh on it 
That's a pretty significant gap right there! On the other hand, states like Oregon have seen an increase in voter turnout since they switched to mail-in ballots – it's all about convenience and accessibility, you know? 
. What do you think, folks? Should we be worried about voter ID requirements or is there something else on Trump's agenda that we should be keeping an eye on? 
! I guess he didn't think about how hard it would be for people who can't travel or get IDs 
. It's about time we stood up for our rights to vote and make our voices heard 
This is why voting rights should be protected, not restricted 
.
i mean, come on, we gotta protect our right to free speech online 
and not let politicians dictate what we can and can't share. this ruling is a huge win for democracy 
and i'm all about it! 
. I mean, who are we to assume that someone isn't eligible to vote just because they're not born here? It's our democracy and we need everyone to participate! My kid's friend moved here with their family when they were little, and now they're all grown up and voting... it's amazing how much of an impact one person can have on the world 
. I'm glad the judge saw it like that too 
.
. Like, isn't the whole point of having an election supposed to be giving everyone a say in how things are run? I mean, non-citizens are paying taxes and contributing to society just like anyone else, so why shouldn't they have a chance to participate in democracy too?
. But at the same time, it's not like he didn't have plenty of opportunities to push through his agenda if he wanted to 
. Average approval rating for Trump's voter ID policies? -34% 
and maybe limits how much trump can mess with voting rights.
what's next tho? is he gonna try to cancel the election or something? 
. It's like, the system is supposed to work with checks and balances, not just one person trying to make a bunch of changes willy-nilly 
. But thank goodness for Judge Kollar-Kotelly, she stood up for what's right and protected the rights of all Americans... even those who don't have citizenship 
. And have you noticed how the media is just now starting to talk about this? Like they're only covering it because Trump's not trying to block non-citizens from voting... or is there more to it? Maybe this ruling was actually a setup for something bigger, and we're just seeing the " aftermath" 
. I'm telling you, there's always more to the story than what we see on the surface 
.
that this judge stepped in and blocked Trump's attempt to limit non-citizens' right to vote! It's crazy how politicians think they can just dictate who gets to participate in our democracy, but it turns out we have a system of checks and balances for a reason 
. I mean, who are we kidding if we think proof of citizenship is the only way to ensure election integrity? What about all the instances of voter suppression that have already happened in the US? It's time for us to focus on building trust in our electoral process through education, transparency, and inclusivity 
. By the way, I'm loving the fact that more states are speaking out against these restrictive measures – it's awesome to see a growing movement towards voting rights equality 
!
. Guess not?