​Federal Judge Slams Brakes on Trump’s Voter Citizenship Mandate​Federal Judge Slams Brakes on Trump’s Voter Citizenship Mandate

On April 24, 2025, U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly issued a preliminary injunction against key provisions of former President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at overhauling federal election procedures. The order, signed in March, sought to require documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and mandated federal agencies to assess individuals’ citizenship status before allowing them to register while receiving public assistance. Judge Kollar-Kotelly ruled that these provisions overstepped presidential authority, stating that the Constitution grants the power to regulate federal elections to Congress and the states, not the executive branch. ​

The judge’s decision came in response to lawsuits filed by groups including the Democratic National Committee, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the League of Women Voters. They argued that the executive order could disenfranchise eligible voters and impose undue burdens on voter registration processes.

While the court blocked the provisions requiring proof of citizenship and assessments tied to public assistance, it allowed other parts of the executive order to remain in effect. These include mandates for federal agencies to share data with the Department of Government Efficiency and conditions on federal funding related to states’ vote-counting practices, such as the handling of mail-in ballots received after Election Day. Judge Kollar-Kotelly noted that challenges to these provisions would be more appropriately addressed by the states themselves.

The ruling reflects ongoing tensions between federal and state authorities over election regulations and underscores the judiciary’s role in delineating the boundaries of executive power. As legal challenges continue, the future of the remaining provisions of the executive order remains uncertain.​