Daijiworld Media Network - Washington

Washington, Nov 1: In a significant ruling, a U.S. federal judge on Friday permanently blocked a key part of former President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to require voters to show passports or similar documents as proof of citizenship before voting.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington, D.C., ruled that the president does not have the authority to mandate proof of citizenship for voter registration, as the U.S. Constitution grants states the power to oversee elections. The decision marks the first final judgment against Trump’s March 25 executive order, which aimed to overhaul federal elections.

The order had already faced several legal challenges and temporary injunctions. The judge’s ruling came in response to lawsuits filed by the Democratic National Committee, the League of United Latin American Citizens, and the League of Women Voters Education Fund.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), representing the League of Women Voters, hailed the decision as a victory for voting rights. “While we celebrate this victory, we remain vigilant and will keep fighting to ensure every eligible voter can make their voice heard without interference or intimidation,” said ACLU attorney Sophia Lin Lakin. “No president can sidestep the Constitution to make it harder to vote.”

The blocked provision had directed a non-partisan federal election body to amend the national voter registration form to include a requirement for documents such as a passport to prove citizenship.

The White House did not immediately comment on the ruling.

Judge Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling reaffirms that the power to regulate elections lies with the states, not the executive branch. Trump, who continues to claim without evidence that his 2020 loss to Joe Biden was due to widespread voter fraud, has repeatedly alleged that non-citizens vote illegally—a claim widely debunked by election officials and courts.