Democrats Sue Trump Over Executive Order Threatening US Elections
The Democratic Party has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration, challenging a March 25 executive order they argue could disenfranchise eligible voters.
The lawsuit, filed on Monday in a Washington D.C. federal court, claims the order exceeds the president’s authority.
It mandates proof of US citizenship for voters, prohibits states from counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, and threatens to withhold federal funding from noncompliant states.
According to the lawsuit, “The Executive Order seeks to impose radical changes on how Americans register to vote, cast a ballot, and participate in our democracy — all of which threaten to disenfranchise lawful voters and none of which is legal.”
Democratic election attorney Marc Elias, along with his legal team, filed the case, with Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries also listed as plaintiffs.
The Trump administration has yet to respond, although it has previously defended the executive order, claiming it is necessary to prevent foreign interference in US elections.
Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the electoral system’s integrity and falsely claimed widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election, which he lost to Joe Biden.
The administration and its Republican allies have also made unfounded claims about illegal voting by non-citizens, despite the lack of supporting evidence.
The lawsuit contends that, under the US Constitution, the regulation of federal elections falls under the authority of individual states and Congress, not the president.
“The Framers of our federal Constitution foresaw that self-interested and self-aggrandising leaders might seek to corrupt our democratic system of government to expand and preserve their own power,” the filing states.
In a related action, voting rights organizations such as the Campaign Legal Center and the State Democracy Defenders Fund filed their own legal challenge to the executive order.
This case is expected to test the limits of presidential power over election laws as the next election cycle approaches.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
