PoliticusUSA thrives independently and ad-free thanks to the support of readers like you. Consider becoming a subscriber to help us continue our work.
In a twist that many anticipated from the outset, former President Trump’s executive order—mandating national voter identification and limiting voting to same-day registration—has been deemed illegal. This decision comes courtesy of a coalition of voting rights organizations, alongside the Democratic Party, led by figures such as Senator Chuck Schumer and Representative Hakeem Jeffries, who celebrated a significant legal victory when a federal judge ruled that Trump lacks the authority to enforce his order.
More specifically, Trump cannot compel the U.S. Election Assistance Commission to implement his directive requiring ID for federal voter registration. The plaintiffs in this case secured a temporary restraining order, effectively preventing the core components of Trump’s order from being activated.
Marcia Johnson, the chief counsel for the League of Women Voters of the United States, remarked, “While this battle is far from over, we are relieved that the court recognized a President cannot ‘short-circuit’ Congress and unilaterally impose an illegal executive order that threatens the rights of millions of voters. This executive order, along with the SAVE Act, aims to complicate the voting process for American citizens, especially women voters. However, the League of Women Voters remains steadfast in our commitment to defending democracy against those who seek to undermine it.”
In short, Trump’s executive order was not merely illegal; it was egregiously so.
