President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order aimed at limiting mail-in voting. Legal experts believe this move is not only likely to be deemed unconstitutional but could also disrupt ongoing lawsuits by the Department of Justice (DOJ) concerning state voter rolls.
David Becker, director of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, remarked that the executive order could inadvertently weaken the DOJ’s cases trying to access voter data. The order claims to allow mail-in ballots only for verified U.S. citizens, based on a list from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Democrats promptly challenged it in court, arguing that it violates constitutional rights. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, who previously blocked a similar order, may act swiftly again.
The DOJ is actively suing 29 states and Washington, D.C., insisting it needs access to voter registration rolls to enforce federal laws. While 17 Republican-led states have complied—potentially breaching privacy laws—others have resisted. The DOJ justified its actions by claiming the need for accurate voter rolls, but officials have let slip that the data will also be used for verifying citizenship, contradicting their official claims.
A federal judge noted the inconsistencies, emphasizing that the DOJ’s motives should be scrutinized. He highlighted that Congress had designed laws to safeguard voting rights, and any attempt to misuse these laws would not be tolerated.
Recent statistics reveal that claims of widespread noncitizen voting are largely unfounded. Numerous audits show that the issue is nearly nonexistent, with only a handful of cases reported. In fact, by the DOJ’s own estimates, only “dozens” of noncitizens have been found improperly registered.
Legal experts have criticized the DOJ’s strategy, pointing out multiple errors in their filings and adherence to deadlines. So far, the Trump administration has lost three court cases related to these issues. This suggests that the legal battles over voter data may only escalate in the coming months as more parties get involved.
For further details on voter registration and legal battles, you might check out reports from sources like the Cato Institute and updates from local election officials.
