• A U.S. judge has blocked parts of Trump's executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
• The ruling was in response to lawsuits from several voting rights groups and the Democratic Party.
• Judge Kollar-Kotelly stated that the president lacks constitutional authority over federal elections.
• Some provisions regarding mail-in ballots were not blocked, allowing them to proceed.
• This decision represents a significant legal setback for Trump's election reform efforts.

A federal judge has partially blocked President Trump’s executive order aimed at reforming federal election procedures, which included a controversial requirement for voters to present proof of U.S. citizenship when registering. U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, in a detailed opinion, emphasized that “our Constitution entrusts Congress and the States—not the President—with the authority to regulate federal elections,” outlining her disagreement with the executive order on constitutional grounds. Specifically, she noted that the order sought to undermine the legislative process established by Congress, according to CBS News, The Hill, and ABC News.

The decision blocked two specific provisions from Trump’s executive order: one requiring the Election Assistance Commission to add a proof of citizenship requirement to voter registration forms, and another mandating federal agencies to assess citizenship for individuals receiving public assistance before issuing voter registration. Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling came in a 120-page opinion that highlighted the potential for disenfranchisement among eligible voters, particularly among communities of color, according to Forbes, Reuters, and HuffPost.

Kollar-Kotelly outlined that the executive actions were likely to impede access to voting and violate constitutional protections. The judge granted a preliminary injunction based on the strong likelihood of success presented by the plaintiffs, which included major civil rights organizations and the Democratic National Committee. However, she chose not to block other provisions of the executive order, such as those tightening mail-in ballot deadlines, suggesting these could be addressed in separate litigation by the states, according to Newsweek and TRT World.

The ruling is a notable setback for the Trump administration, which has long argued that requiring proof of citizenship is crucial for restoring trust in the electoral system. Critics, however, pointed out that such claims of widespread voter fraud lack substantiation, emphasizing that the executive order was politically motivated, as evidenced by Trump’s ongoing claims of a stolen election in 2020, as reported by The Hill and HuffPost.