Federal Court Halts President Trump’s Plan to Require U.S. Citizenship for Voter Registration

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A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has blocked key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly ruled Thursday that Trump overstepped his authority by directing the Election Assistance Commission (EAC) to revise the national mail voter registration form. Trump’s executive order, signed in March, aimed to mandate that applicants show a document verifying U.S. citizenship before being allowed to register. It also sought to require federal agencies providing voter registration services to assess citizenship before handing out forms. Critics argued that these moves could disenfranchise millions of eligible voters and bypass Congress’s constitutional role in regulating federal elections.

Congress and States Have The Power, Not Trump

Requiring proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote is a commonsense safeguard that strengthens election integrity. President Trump’s executive order reflects a growing concern that the current system is vulnerable to abuse, especially in states with weak verification standards. Supporters argue that voting is a right reserved for citizens and that allowing non-citizens, whether intentionally or accidentally, to cast ballots undermines the legitimacy of outcomes. While critics say the order burdens eligible voters, Trump’s allies counter that most legal residents already possess documents like birth certificates, passports, or naturalization papers. The goal is not to suppress participation, but to ensure that every vote cast reflects the will of actual U.S. citizens, which is something every democracy should uphold without apology.

However, Judge Kollar-Kotelly emphasized that the Constitution gives Congress and the states, not the President, the power to regulate elections. She cited ongoing legislative efforts, like the SAVE Act passed by the House, that aim to require proof of citizenship at the federal level. The judge stressed that the executive branch cannot unilaterally impose these changes by executive order while Congress is still debating them.

While the court order temporarily halts the proof-of-citizenship mandates, other parts of Trump’s election executive order remain in legal limbo. Challenges to sections related to mail-in ballots and data collection are ongoing, but Kollar-Kotelly said those issues were either premature or better suited for state-level lawsuits at this stage.

Impact on Voting Policy and the Ongoing Legal Fight

The decision marks an early legal victory for voting rights groups, including the ACLU and Brennan Center for Justice, who argue that millions of Americans—especially low-income and minority voters—lack easy access to documents like passports that would prove U.S. citizenship. They maintain that requiring such documentation would place an unfair burden on eligible voters.

Opponents of Trump’s order say it conflicts with the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, which mandates that federal agencies offer voter registration services without imposing additional hurdles unless applicants opt out. By trying to force agencies to assess citizenship status before offering forms, Trump’s order arguably contradicts this longstanding federal law.

White House Vows to Keep Fighting

The White House, meanwhile, vowed to keep fighting. In a statement, spokesperson Harrison Fields defended the executive order as a necessary safeguard for election integrity. “Free and fair elections are the bedrock of our Constitutional Republic,” Fields said. “We’re confident in securing an ultimate victory in the courtroom.”

The broader legal fight over proof of U.S. citizenship requirements is far from over. Several states led by Democratic attorneys general are pursuing separate lawsuits. Republican-led states are also advancing their own citizenship verification laws at the state level. With more than 25 states considering or enacting proof-of-citizenship measures, the national debate over voter eligibility is intensifying ahead of the 2026 midterms.

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