Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote

By — Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press By — Michael Casey, Associated Press Michael Casey, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/federal-judge-bars-trump-from-implementing-proof-of-citizenship-requirement-to-vote Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote Politics Jun 24, 2026 3:26 PM EDT A federal judge on Wednesday permanently barred President Donald Trump's administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections, part of which sought to require people to show documentary proof of citizenship when they register to vote. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper in Boston effectively converts a preliminary injunction she issued a year ago, in which she temporarily blocked many of Trump's efforts to overhaul elections, into a permanent ban. Educate your inbox Subscribe to Here’s the Deal, our politics newsletter for analysis you won’t find anywhere else. Casper rejected the administration's argument that the lawsuit to block the changes brought by Democratic state attorneys general was premature because the rules had yet to be implemented. Instead, she agreed that the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to regulate elections, and that Trump's requirements violated the separation of powers. The Constitution "does not grant the President any specific powers over elections," she wrote. Among other proposed changes, Trump's order would have required people to provide documentary proof of citizenship when registering to vote, prevented mail ballots from being counted if they arrive after Election Day, even if they were postmarked by then, and punished states that failed to comply by withholding certain federal money. READ MORE: Trump says he's not mulling a draft executive order to seize control over elections. Here's what we know In a statement, New York Attorney General Letitia James said she was grateful the court had blocked Trump's "unconstitutional attempt to seize control of our elections" and would continue to defend voting rights in this year's midterm elections. "Generations of Americans fought tirelessly for the right to vote, and we honor their legacy by protecting that right against anyone who tries to undermine it," she said. Requests for comment sent to the White House and Department of Justice were not immediately returned. It was the latest in a string of rulings against the elections executive order Trump signed just months after taking office for his second term. He has since signed another executive order on elections, seeking to create a national voter list and limit mail balloting. That directive also faces multiple legal challenges. READ MORE: What to know about how the SAVE America Act could change voting Last fall, a federal judge in Washington, D.C., overseeing a s