23 States Sue Trump Over Mail-In Voting Order

Get ready for a major showdown in the courts! A coalition of 23 states, along with the District of Columbia, has officially filed a federal lawsuit to block President Trump’s recent executive order concerning mail-in voting procedures. They argue that this order significantly oversteps federal authority and infringes upon the Constitution.

States Fight Back Against Federal Mandate

The lawsuit, lodged in the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts, asserts that President Trump doesn’t have the constitutional power to dictate how states manage their own electoral systems. The states involved claim the executive order attempts to “transgress Plaintiff States’ constitutional power to prescribe the time, place, and manner of federal elections.”

Essentially, they’re saying the President is trying to rewrite election law by decree, based on personal preference rather than established legal processes. This move is seen as a direct challenge to the bedrock principles of federalism, where states retain significant power over their internal affairs, including elections.

New Hurdles for Mail-In Voting

Signed just months before the upcoming November midterms, the executive order introduces several strict new requirements for mail-in voting. One key provision tasks the Department of Homeland Security with creating State Citizenship Lists. The order also prohibits the U.S. Postal Service from delivering ballots to individuals not on these specific federal rolls.

Furthermore, the order mandates unique tracking barcodes on all mail-in envelopes. States that fail to comply with these new mandates risk losing federal funding. The states suing argue that this action “violates bedrock principles of federalism and separation of powers,” emphasizing that election oversight is a power reserved for states and Congress, not the executive branch.

Concerns Over Election Integrity and Hypocrisy

While President Trump has often voiced concerns about mail-in voting, labeling it as a potential source of “cheating,” critics have pointed out instances where his own family has utilized mail ballots. Moreover, despite claims of widespread fraud or noncitizen voting, such occurrences are statistically rare and are already considered federal crimes.

This executive action follows a broader push for the SAVE America Act, which aims to require in-person proof of citizenship for voter registration. While that bill made it through the House, its path in the Senate appears challenging. It’s also worth noting that a similar executive order from last year is still caught up in the court system after parts of it were blocked.

• 23 states and D.C. are suing to block Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting.
• The lawsuit argues the order oversteps federal authority and violates the Constitution.
• New requirements include State Citizenship Lists and unique ballot tracking barcodes.
• States not complying risk losing federal funding.
• Critics point to alleged hypocrisy and the rarity of claimed voter fraud.