Federal judge blocks Trump citizenship requirement for voter registration
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A federal judge ruled that the Trump administration cannot enforce an executive order requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship on federal voter registration forms; The administration defends this decision as a legal effort to protect election integrity.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., found that requirement unconstitutional on Friday, writing that the president “does not have the authority to direct such changes.”
“The first question that arises in these consolidated cases is whether the president can act unilaterally to change federal election procedures,” Kollar-Kotelly said. he wrote.
“Because our Constitution places responsibility for election regulations in the hands of the States and Congress, this Court holds that the President lacks the authority to direct such changes.”
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President Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington on July 29, 2025. A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration cannot enforce an executive order requiring documented proof of U.S. citizenship on federal voter registration forms. (Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP)
However, a White House spokesman told Fox News Digital that Trump was acting within his legal authority.
“President Trump used his legal authority to ensure that only American citizens can vote in American elections,” White House deputy press secretary Abigail Jackson told Fox News Digital in an email. “This is such a common-sense behavior that only the Democratic Party can sue it.
“We expect to be acquitted by a higher court.”
The judge sided with the plaintiffs, including the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the Democratic National Committee, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund, arguing that the Constitution “does not give the president a direct role in either arena.”
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The voting booths are pictured here. In March, President Trump signed an executive order requiring anyone registering to vote to provide government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship. (Paul J. Richards/AFP via Getty Images)
The decision permanently blocks the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from adding this requirement to the federal voter form, according to the Associated Press.
The case will continue while the judge reviews other parts of Trump’s order, according to the Associated Press.
In March, President Trump signed an executive order requiring anyone registering to vote to provide government-issued proof of U.S. citizenship.
The order also directed the attorney general to enter into information-sharing agreements with state election officials to detect cases of election fraud or other election law violations and to condition federal election-related funding on states’ compliance with federal election integrity measures.
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“I Voted” stickers appear at polling places. The case will continue while the judge reviews other parts of Trump’s order, according to the Associated Press. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
“We have other steps we will be taking in the coming weeks,” Trump said just before signing the order. “We think we can have fair elections.”
Kollar-Kotelly had previously issued a preliminary injunction in April, and another federal judge blocked the same March 25 executive order in June after a separate challenge from Democratic state attorneys general, the Associated Press reported.
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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News’ Louis Casiano, Shannon Bream and Bill Mears contributed to this report.
