A federal judge has blocked key parts of President Donald Trump’s controversial executive order that aimed to overhaul U.S. elections, including a new requirement for voters to show proof of citizenship to register for federal elections.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled that only Congress and states have the constitutional authority to regulate federal elections—not the president. The decision came in response to lawsuits filed by voting rights groups and Democratic leaders, who argued that Trump’s plan would disenfranchise voters, particularly naturalized citizens and minority communities.
While some provisions of the order—such as tightening mail ballot deadlines—are still allowed to proceed for now, the ruling marks a significant legal setback for Trump, who had pushed the proof-of-citizenship mandate as a measure to restore voter confidence.
Voting rights advocates celebrated the decision as a defense of democratic norms and constitutional checks and balances.