Trump’s Elections Order ‘Sets the Stage for Chaos,’ States Warn in New Lawsuit
Democratic attorneys general in 19 states argued in a new lawsuit against President Donald Trump Thursday that his broad elections executive order violates the Constitution by attempting to wrest control over elections from the states.
“The Elections EO sows confusion and sets the stage for chaos in Plaintiff States’ election systems, together with the threat of disenfranchisement,” the lawsuit reads.
It’s the fourth lawsuit filed over Trump’s order, which election officials and voting rights advocates warn could disenfranchise millions of voters if it’s allowed to stand in part by making registering to vote and voting by mail more difficult.
“The Elections EO is unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American,” the lawsuit reads. “It intrudes on the constitutionally reserved powers of the States and Congress”
Among its directives, Trump’s order attempts to require eligible voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering through a federal registration form and commands the attorney general to “take all necessary action” against any states that count absentee or mail-in ballots received after Election Day.
Trump’s order also attempts to assert control over the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a bipartisan independent body created by Congress to help states improve the country’s election infrastructure.
“It bears emphasizing: the President has no power to do any of this,” the lawsuit reads.
The states are seeking a court order blocking the administration from implementing several provisions of the executive order.
The three other lawsuits against Trump’s order, filed by the Democratic Party’s national committees and coalitions of voting rights organizations, have been consolidated into one case.