A sweeping challenge to election procedures, initiated by a former president, has met a significant roadblock. A federal judge in Washington state has blocked key provisions of an executive order aimed at reshaping how federal elections are conducted.
The order, issued in March, mandated proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and stipulated that all mail-in ballots must be received by Election Day. It also directed the Department of Justice to pursue action against states that tallied ballots arriving after the polls closed.
Judge John Chun, appointed by the current administration, delivered a decisive ruling, halting the implementation of these measures in Washington state and Oregon. The judge’s assessment centered on a fundamental principle of American governance: the separation of powers.
Chun argued the former president overstepped constitutional boundaries, effectively attempting to legislate rather than execute existing laws. The 75-page ruling underscored the Supreme Court’s established precedent that the President’s role is to enforce laws, not create them.
The executive order sought to bolster election security through several avenues. It proposed requiring documentary proof of U.S. citizenship on voter registration forms and granting states access to federal databases for verifying voter eligibility.
Further, the order aimed to prioritize the prosecution of non-citizen voting and related crimes, leveraging resources from agencies like the Department of Homeland Security. It also proposed conditioning federal election funding on states’ adherence to these new integrity measures.
A core component of the order focused on modern voting systems, advocating for voter-verifiable paper ballot records and discouraging the use of ballots relying on barcodes or QR codes. It also called for enhanced information sharing between federal and state election officials to identify and address potential fraud.
The order didn’t stop at voting procedures. It sought to prevent non-citizens from any involvement in election administration and to enforce existing laws regarding voter list maintenance. It also targeted foreign interference in U.S. elections, aiming to prioritize enforcement against illegal contributions.
The former administration responded to the judge’s decision with a statement expressing confidence in an eventual victory. A spokesperson asserted the former president’s deep commitment to election integrity and characterized the executive order as a lawful effort to ensure election security.
However, the judge’s ruling represents a substantial legal setback, raising critical questions about the scope of presidential authority in the realm of election administration and potentially setting the stage for a prolonged legal battle.
