Judge Blocks Trump’s Order Requiring Proof of Citizenship to Vote

• Can Trump make proof of citizenship mandatory?
• Who is affected by this blocked order?
• What did the judge say about Congress?

A federal judge has temporarily blocked an order from President Donald Trump that would have required proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly of the District of Columbia ruled in favor of a group of organizations that accused the government of violating the Constitution.

According to the judge, Trump’s executive order sought to strip states and Congress of their exclusive power to regulate federal elections.

The measure, pushed by the Election Assistance Commission under Trump’s instructions, aimed to require documents like passports to prove U.S. citizenship.

Trump’s Order for Proof of Citizenship in Voting Blocked

? The little-known federal agency at the center of Trump’s order requiring proof of citizenship to vote. https://t.co/aw0BXJV2LV

— Univision Noticias (@UniNoticias) April 24, 2025

According to the plaintiffs, this would exclude millions of eligible citizens, particularly minorities and low-income individuals.

Source: ACLU, which represents the plaintiffs, warned that Trump’s order is part of a broader attack on the democratic system.

Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project, stated that this strategy seeks to intimidate voters by promoting baseless conspiracy theories.

“The court today blocked a key strategy of this attack,” Lakin said, reaffirming her commitment to protecting the right to vote without interference.

How Would It Affect the States?

In addition to the citizenship requirement, Trump’s order included bans on counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day.

This would affect states like California, where it is legal to count mail-in votes up to seven days after the election.

The order also demanded drastic changes to voting systems and equipment security, threatening to cut funding if states did not comply.

The judge further noted that no federal law grants the president the power to bypass the legislative process through executive orders.

According to the ruling, Trump’s order represents an overreach of the Executive Branch into an area clearly regulated by Congress and state governments.

This decision marks a temporary victory for voting rights advocates in the United States.

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With information from Efe and CNN.