Federal Judge Carl Nichols of Washington on Wednesday refused to stay US President Donald Trump’s executive order creating a federal voter registry and restricting voting by mail. According to the AP agency, this decision paves the way for potentially large-scale changes in the organization of elections in the United States shortly before this year’s congressional elections, writes TASR.
In short:
- Federal Judge Carl Nichols refused to stay Trump’s new election regulation
- The regulation creates a federal voter roll and limits voting by mail
- The judge stated that the intervention is premature as the measures are not yet in effect
- The legal dispute continues with a separate lawsuit in federal court in Boston
The lawsuit was filed by a group of Democrats and several civil rights organizations, which argued that Trump’s order should be declared unconstitutional because individual states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules.
Plaintiffs may proceed
However, Nichols agreed with the presidential administration’s argument that it is too early to issue an injunction, since the measures have not yet been put into practice. The judge, who at one time was appointed by Trump, added that the plaintiffs can appeal to the court again when these measures are put into effect in the future.
The legal battle over the provision now moves to Boston, where voting rights groups have filed a separate lawsuit in federal court.
Trump’s order and criticism
Trump issued the order creating a federal voter registry and restricting mail-in voting in March after a bill to reform the voting system failed to pass in Congress.
The regulation provides for the creation of a federal list of eligible voters and at the same time imposes on the US Postal Service the obligation to deliver ballots by mail only to people listed on this list. As noted by AP, representatives of the election authorities warned that such a system could be abused and cause chaos.
Allegations of electoral fraud
Since losing the 2020 presidential election, Trump has claimed without evidence that mail-in voting is rife with widespread fraud. He also initiated an unsuccessful federal investigation into the election results, despite repeated audits and investigations — including those led by Republicans — failing to confirm voter fraud. The president also expressed his intention to “take control” of the organization of elections in areas controlled by Democrats.
Democrats and civil rights organizations have argued that the injunction is urgent given the ongoing party primaries and state preparations for fall congressional elections.
Previous regulation blocked
AP added that this is Trump’s second executive order aimed at changing election rules. The first, issued by the president shortly after the start of his second term, was blocked by multiple federal judges. Among other things, this regulation introduced the obligation to submit citizenship documents during voter registration.
