A judge on Thursday blocked the Trump administration from immediately enacting certain changes to how federal elections are run, including adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form.
President Donald Trump had called for that and other sweeping changes to U.S. elections in an executive order signed in March, arguing the U.S. “fails to enforce basic and necessary election protections" that exist in other countries.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington sided with voting rights groups and Democrats to grant a preliminary injunction to stop the citizenship requirement from moving forward while the lawsuit plays out.
She also blocked part of the Republican president's executive order requiring public assistance enrollees to have their citizenship assessed before getting access to the federal voter registration form.
But she denied other requests from a group of Democratic plaintiffs, including refusing to block Trump's order to tighten mail ballot deadlines. Also denied in the order was the Democrats' request to stop Trump from directing the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Government Efficiency to review state voter lists alongside immigration databases.
The judge's order halts the Trump administration's efforts to push through a proof-of-citizenship mandate that Republicans have said is needed to restore public confidence in elections. Voting in federal elections by noncitizens is already illegal and can result in felony charges and deportation.
Two groups of nonpartisan organizations and a group of national Democrats had sued to block Trump's order, calling it unconstitutional. They argued it violates the Constitution’s so-called Elections Clause, which gives states, not the president, the authority to determine how elections are run.
The plaintiffs also argued that Trump’s order asserts power that he does not have over an independent agency. That agency, the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, sets voluntary voting system guidelines and maintains the federal voter registration form.
During an April 17 hearing, attorneys for the plaintiffs had argued that requiring proof of citizenship on the federal voter registration form would complicate their clients’ voter registration drives at grocery stores and other public places.
Aria Branch, counsel for the Democratic National Committee and other Democratic plaintiffs, also argued the executive order’s effort to tighten mail ballot deadlines would irreparably harm her clients by forcing them to reallocate resources to help voters navigate the changes.
“That’s time, money and organizational resources and strategy that can’t be recouped,” she said.
Michael Gates, counsel for the Trump administration, said in the hearing a preliminary injunction wasn’t warranted because the order hadn’t been implemented and a citizenship requirement would not be on the federal voter registration form for many months.
Roman Palomares, national president of one of the nonpartisan plaintiffs in the case, the League of United Latin American Citizens, said Thursday the judge's decision was a “victory for voters.”
“Efforts to silence the voice and votes of the U.S. electorate must not stand because our democracy depends on all voters feeling confident that they can vote freely and that their vote will be counted accurately,” he said in a statement.
The decision comes as state and local election officials from across the country are meeting to consider the implications of Trump’s executive order on their work.
The U.S. Election Assistance Commission’s Standards Board, which was holding a public hearing in North Carolina on Thursday, is a bipartisan advisory group of election officials from every state that meets annually.
Meanwhile, other lawsuits against Trump’s order are still pending.
In early April, 19 Democratic attorneys general asked the court to reject Trump’s executive order. Washington and Oregon, which both hold all-mail elections, followed with their own lawsuit against the order.
The U.S. differs from many other countries in that it does not hold national elections run by the federal government. Instead, elections are decentralized — overseen by the states and run by thousands of local jurisdictions.
© Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
51 Comments
TaiwanIsNotChina
Time to educate the manbaby about who sets such requirements.
Underworld
Trump trying to do everything through executive order shows how weak he is. Government works through Congress, but Trump is too weak to get laws passed, even when they have a majority in both houses.
So he relies on EO's, which will mostly be struck down because they are unlawful.
I'veSeenFootage
The only important thing here. MAGA yelling about voter fraud that doesn't happen and Trump making a lax for something that's already illegal and practically never happening. Just xenophobic dog-whistles and voter suppression. Nothing else.
Ah_so
Just an attempt to suppress votes because the Republicans don't believe in the ideal of democracy, but rather as an inconvenience that most be circumvented in reading power.
chatanista
Nothing wrong with having to prove you are a citizen in order to vote in the US election. It is common sense. If we don't prove we are citizens in Japan we can't vote either. Why are Democrats so afraid of it and have to try so hard to block it if they have nothing to hide? This should be supported by both Reps and Dems.
Underworld
chatanista
No it isn't. Because non-citizens are not allowed to register to vote.
Nope. They don't check id when voting in Japan.
It doesn't achieve anything, but it is a barrier to voting.
bass4funk
I’m from California, I know for a fact that it happens, I used to work as a bouncer at clubs back in the late 90s and came across fake ideas every night I worked, as well as in the stores.
If it weren’t then they wouldn’t push for it.
Funny, Dems hate ID only when it doesn’t benefit them
theFu
So, you have to be a US Citizen to vote in Federal (and state and city and county) elections, but proving you are a citizen to be able to register to vote isn't allowed?
That's just stupid.
RealID (federal mandate) provides a way to prove citizenship, just like a passport. IDs are state issued through the DMV - either as a drivers license or a state ID. Federal IDs also meet the standards of RealID, so they can be used. Anyway, there are lots of easy ways for Americans to prove they are citizens.
Further, showing an ID at the time of voting shouldn't be controversial. Ask other countries. They think arguing about this is dumb. The point of having an ID it to provide it for local, state and federal proof you are who you claim to be. When voting, you claim to be a citizen and live at an address in the precinct where you are registered. This shouldn't be controversial. BTW, State ID cards are free, so besides gathering the paperwork that everyone should have who was born after 1900, I don't see the problem. If you lost that paperwork due to a natural disaster or house fire, there are ways to get it replaced. You need it for all sorts of things already.
Same day registration is something that only a few states use. My state requires people to register to vote about 30 days before any election they want to vote in. The law is the 5th Monday before election day. In the US, elections are always on a Tuesday, so that works out to either 29 or 30 days prior, depending on State Holidays. https://www.vote.org/voter-registration-deadlines/
In case people think we have to re-re-re-register to vote all the time, that isn't the situation. I last registered in the late 1990s when we moved to our current address. By voting at least once every 4 yrs, our registration remains "active" automatically. A few months before nearly every election, we get a postcard with our voting precinct, so there's no question if we are registered or not. The state does this so the Post Office will return any postcards because someone moved. It is a way for them to know who is not longer eligible to vote in a precinct, so those names can be removed. It all makes sense and laws support these actions.
It is very little hassle, really. I think the court is wrong on this.
However, there is so little proven fraud of this type, I don't know that it is worth any fight either way.
Underworld
theFu
Most countries do not require an id when voting.
bass4funk
Most countries use paper ballots and most countries don’t do online voting
Over 90% of countries use paper ballots either exclusively
Underworld
theFu
Individual states can have their own requirements, but you can't have a federal law that overrides states, when states run elections.
Underworld
bass4funk
Most countries do not require an id when voting.
How is that relevant?
bass4funk
- Uses advanced security features (e.g., machine-readable technology, holograms) to make IDs harder to forge.
- Ensures states share data to prevent individuals from obtaining multiple IDs across states, reducing identity theft and fraud.
- Impact: By making it harder for malicious actors to obtain fake IDs, Real ID strengthens security for air travel, federal facilities, and other sensitive areas.
Standardized Identification Across States- Purpose: Before Real ID, states had varying standards for issuing IDs, leading to inconsistencies in reliability and security.
- How It Helps:
- Creates uniform standards for ID issuance, ensuring all states verify identity, residency, and legal status consistently.
- States must comply with federal guidelines, such as secure storage of applicant data and background checks for DMV employees.
- Impact: A standardized system builds trust in IDs nationwide, making them more reliable for law enforcement, businesses, and federal agencies.
This will change everything. Deadline coming. I got mine!
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/what-real-id-deadline-approaches-new-identification-cards-required-fly-domestically
bass4funk
Because they don’t have a problem with cheating and voter fraud
Underworld
bass4funk
How is that relevant?
Neither does the US.
bass4funk
Then there wouldn’t be a need for Real ID to be implemented
lincolnman
What's this - three straight weeks of daily court losses for this Moron?
What a record! Give him the Guiness Award for "losing"....
He'd probably hang in on the wall at Trump Tower....
chotto_2
US is not getting another free and fair election. Get used to it.
bass4funk
The supreme Court will rectify that, and slap these judges down again.
These liberal active judges I’m not helping the Democrat party, now that they have so many members leaving the party and already being at the bottom 25%. The midterm should be a breeze for Republicans.
Blacklabel
But but It’s voter suppression!
Yea, of illegals.
we voted for that too.
I'veSeenFootage
No you don't, because it doesn't.
You still have a lot of fake "ideas". You post them here all the time! But fake ids can't be used to vote anyway. Polling places are more secure than... A bar.
Of minorities with no ID yep.
Who can't and don't vote anyway, so what's your point?
wallace
There were no credible allegations of election fraud or evidence of votes that disappeared during the 2024 election.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Illegals don't vote. They are not allowed to.
Blacklabel
who exists in the USA who is an American citizen but would have no ID at all?
then why does your activist judge feel it’s necessary to block an order saying so?
Underworld
bass4funk
Neither does the US.
Good point. There isn't.
Real ID is Bush-era Patriot Act overreach.
Blacklabel
“A comprehensive audit of Georgia's voter rolls -- which include 8.2 million registered voters -- uncovered 20 noncitizens who registered to vote, including nine instances when noncitizens actually cast a ballot.
A similar audit of Iowa's 2.3 million voters revealed 87 instances where individuals cast ballots and later self-reported as noncitizens.”
so they can and do vote.
Bob Fosse
You forget that multiple court cases and investigations into 2020 illegal voting found nothing at all significant. Nothing.
Blacklabel
yet they still do and did.
but there were.
it’s just that everyone knows illegals vote for deMS-13 exclusively.
If you thought even one vote was for my team, you would be demanding laws and prison time/depoetation for illegal voters.
I'veSeenFootage
Minorities. Mostly poor people.
https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/how-id-requirements-harm-marginalized-communities-and-their-right-to-vote/
Everybody knows this. Why don't you?
Because "your" fascist president is using ut as an excuse to enact laws making it harder for americans to vote. How do you not understand this?
wallace
Japanese do not show their ID when voting, just their voting card.
lincolnman
What are you talking about? Lol
Your favorite network says otherwise....
"President Donald Trump’s approval rating is sinking ― and not even Fox News can spin it.
The right-wing network, which is usually a safe space for the MAGA faithful, on Wednesday shared its latest poll numbers, which show the president’s approval rating is now far behind every other 21st-century president at a similar point.
Trump’s approval rating is 44% at almost 100 days in office, compared with 54% for Joe Biden, 62% for Barack Obama and 63% for George W. Bush at the same point.
He’s even behind himself: Trump’s approval rating was 45% at the 100-day mark of his previous term in office.
The poll is driven in part by economic issues, which had been Trump’s strong spot during his first term. But right now, just 38% approve of how he is handling the economy, versus 56% who disapprove. He’s also deep underwater on inflation (33% approve, 59% disapprove) and tariffs (33% approve, 58% disapprove), according to the poll.
When "your safe space" Fox can't even spin the bad news, you know Trump 2.0 is self-imploding....lol...
Blacklabel
“Democracy Docket is a voting rights and media platform that tracks election litigation. It has been described as liberal-leaning and progressive.
It was founded in 2020 by Democratic Party lawyer Marc Elias”
oh that sounds….reputable.
Underworld
Blacklabel
I have never seen 0.004% affect an election.
Underworld
Blacklabel
Very reputable.
I'veSeenFootage
Thank you for admitting you have no arguments to counter the actual content of the link I posted!
Blacklabel
the false claim was don’t and can’t vote.
And it affects the American whose vote was canceled out by an illegal.
Blacklabel
The content of made up Democrat propaganda to drive partisan narratives?
the counter is “the recently created propaganda site of Democrat lawyer Marc Elias has zero credibility on this topic”
Underworld
Blacklabel
I have never seen 0.004% affect an election.
But as you can see, it doesn't.
You have refuted your own argument.
No elections have been affected by illegals voting.
Boom!
Underworld
Blacklabel
Except that Marc Elias is impartial.
bass4funk
Liberals say that, but the data said different
I think that’s great!
I'veSeenFootage
Thank you for admitting again you have no arguments to counter the actual facts presented in the link I posted. Here are some other ones from different sources:
https://www.mapresearch.org/id-documents-report
https://www.voteriders.org/impact-of-id-barriers/
https://cdce.umd.edu/sites/cdce.umd.edu/files/pubs/Voter%20ID%202023%20survey%20Key%20Results%20Jan%202024%20%281%29.pdf
https://www.npr.org/2012/02/01/146204308/why-millions-of-americans-have-no-government-id
I could go on. But this is a very well-known issue. Unless you only read far-right propaganda of course!
Underworld
bass4funk
Good point. There isn't.
Nope.
bass4funk
You and the out of control left can say whatever you want, no one and I mean, no one is buying that, the voter ID issue is another reason why the left lost, I personally don’t care if libs want to remain out of power, but to try and convince people what we already know is a lie is a losing issue, I’m so glad when this ID gets launched. You need an ID for literally everything, but not for voting, it’s just outrageous, but if libs want to remain jobless, that’s fine by me. Probably better for the nation.
bass4funk
The data and government say different. Anyway, I’m getting my ID, can’t wait.
wallace
bass4funk
You don't apply the same logic to gun registrations.
wallace
bass4funk
Nope.
You usually vote by mail ballot from your location. What ID does that require?
I'veSeenFootage
No one is buying what? That minorities often have no proper ID and therefore will be negatively impacted if voting ID laws are enacted? Are you saying that minorities DO all have ID? Can you provide data ascertaining that fact?
Tokyo Guy
MAGA: Rule of law! If you're illegal we're throwing you out without due process!
Courts (apply actual rule of law)
MAGA: No not like that.
wallace
Texas and Florida do not require voter photo ID.
bass4funk
Focus, we are talking about illegals not guns
wallace
bass4funk
You don't apply the same logic to gun registrations.
Focused already. No, we are talking about voter ID.