Judge declines to block Trump order for federal voter list and mail voting limits
A federal judge has declined to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order that seeks to create a federal list of eligible voters and limit mail voting, a decision that clears the way for potential changes before the midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee in Washington, D.C., rejected a request by Democrats and civil rights groups who argued the order would likely be unconstitutional. The judge agreed with the Trump administration that it is too early to block the order because it has not yet been implemented. The legal battle continues separately in Boston, where voting rights groups have filed a lawsuit. Trump issued the order in March after a voting overhaul bill stalled in Congress. The order would direct the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to those on the federal list, a move election officials argued could cause chaos. The article reports that Trump has groundlessly claimed mail voting is rife with fraud, despite repeated audits finding no widespread fraud.
What’s reported
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols refused to block Trump’s executive order creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting.
The judge ruled it is too early for an injunction because the order has not been implemented.
Democrats and civil rights groups had argued the order is unconstitutional, as states and Congress set election rules.
A separate lawsuit against the order is pending in federal court in Boston.
Trump issued the order in March after a voting overhaul bill stalled in Congress.
The order would have the federal government create a list of eligible voters and direct the Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to those on the list.
Election officials argued the order was ripe for abuse and could cause chaos.
The article states Trump has groundlessly claimed mail voting is rife with fraud, though repeated audits found no widespread fraud.
This is Trump’s second election executive order; his first, requiring proof of citizenship to register, has been blocked by multiple judges.
Misconceptions
The article addresses the misconception that mail voting is rife with fraud, noting that repeated audits and investigations, including those run by Republicans, found no widespread fraud.
Key figures
President Donald Trump
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols
Democrats and civil rights groups (not individually named)
Sources: abcnews.com
