Key points
- White House vows to appeal ruling
- State-level citizenship proof rules have caused confusion
New York: A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s request to add a documentary proof of citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form is unconstitutional. US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly sided with Democratic and civil rights groups who sued the Trump administration over his executive order aimed at overhauling US elections.
The judge stated that the President does not have the authority to impose such a change, as the Constitution assigns the regulation of elections to the States and Congress, not the President. “Because our Constitution assigns responsibility for election regulation to the States and to Congress, this Court holds that the President lacks the authority to direct such changes,” Kollar-Kotelly wrote, reports AP News.
The ruling effectively blocks the US Election Assistance Commission from adding the proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form. The decision also grants the plaintiffs, including the ACLU, a partial summary judgment against the directive. Sophia Lin Lakin of the ACLU called it “a clear victory for our democracy,” labelling Trump’s push for the requirement a “unconstitutional power grab.”
Proof-of-citizenship
The White House disagreed with the ruling, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating, “President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to ensure only American citizens are casting ballots.” Jackson added that they expected to be vindicated by a higher court.
Efforts to impose proof-of-citizenship requirements at the state level have been problematic, creating confusion for voters, particularly for married women needing additional documentation. In Kansas, a similar rule previously blocked 30,000 eligible voters before it was overturned in court.
The lawsuit against Trump’s order will continue, with other challenges, including the requirement that mailed ballots be received by Election Day, still under consideration.
