A US federal judge has blocked Donald Trump's executive order requiring voters to show proof of citizenship when registering, ruling it unconstitutional. District Judge Denise Casper in Massachusetts stated that the constitution does not grant the president specific powers over elections, which are largely regulated by states and Congress.
The executive order, issued in 2025, would have mandated documents such as passports or birth certificates for voter registration or changes. It was challenged by Democratic attorneys general, who have filed dozens of lawsuits against Trump in his second term. The ruling is seen as a victory for democracy advocates opposing Trump's efforts to centralise election control.
Trump has also pushed for the Save America Act, which includes similar citizenship proof requirements but has not passed Congress. He has refused to sign other legislation until it is approved. Meanwhile, the US Postal Service proposed a rule requiring states to share lists of mail-in ballot requesters and barcodes, threatening to withhold delivery of ballots from non-compliant states. All 47 Democratic senators warned this could disenfranchise millions of voters.
