Judge Blocks Trump Executive Order on Mail-In Ballot Deadlines and Voter Registration Rules
Judge Blocks Trump Executive Order
Washington, D.C. — In a significant judicial rebuke, a federal judge in Massachusetts has blocked former President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to restrict mail-in ballot counting and impose new voter registration requirements ahead of the upcoming elections.
District Judge Denise J. Casper issued a ruling on Friday preventing the federal government from penalizing states that count absentee ballots mailed before Election Day but received after. The decision is being seen as a major win for voting rights advocates and state election boards, many of which had voiced concerns over the legality and fairness of Trump’s order.
Judge Rejects Citizenship Proof Requirement for Voter Registration
In the same ruling, Judge Casper also barred the Trump administration from requiring proof of citizenship when individuals use the federal voter registration form a measure that critics said would have disenfranchised millions of eligible voters, particularly naturalized citizens and low-income communities.
Notably, this citizenship requirement had already been blocked in a separate federal case, but Friday’s ruling further reinforces its suspension and adds another legal blow to Trump’s post-presidency policy efforts.
Trump’s Focus Shifts to National Security and Iran Tensions
While the court’s decision dominated headlines, Trump was not expected to publicly comment on the ruling. Instead, he was scheduled to attend a National Security Council meeting in the White House Situation Room, following reports of what Israel described as a “preemptive strike” on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure.
The White House did not list any public events on Trump’s schedule for Friday. However, he is expected to appear at a grand military parade in Washington on Saturday, likely in a bid to project strength amid escalating geopolitical tensions.
Broader Implications for 2024 and Beyond
The blocked executive order was widely seen as part of Trump’s broader efforts to tighten voting laws ahead of the 2024 elections. Supporters claimed it was necessary to secure election integrity, while opponents argued it was an attempt to suppress mail in voting, which tends to favor Democratic candidates.
Legal experts say the ruling reaffirms federal protections around absentee voting and voter registration access key battlegrounds in an election season already fraught with litigation and partisan division.
“This ruling sends a clear message that federal overreach into state-managed elections will not go unchecked,” said a spokesperson for the League of Women Voters, which had filed an amicus brief in support of the lawsuit.
