A coalition of 23 states, led in part by Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul, is seeking to permanently block a controversial executive order issued by President Donald Trump that they argue would fundamentally alter how elections are administered across the United States.
In a motion for summary judgment filed in federal court, the coalition is asking the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts to strike down the order, which they say unlawfully interferes with states’ constitutional authority over elections. The legal action follows an earlier lawsuit filed this month challenging the directive, which aims to establish a national voter eligibility list and restrict the distribution of mail-in ballots.
“President Trump does not have the constitutional authority to make or alter laws governing federal elections,” Raoul said in a statement, emphasizing that the U.S. Constitution grants states the power to regulate the “time, place and manner” of elections. He added that the coalition is committed to protecting what he described as the fundamental right to vote for all Americans.
The executive order, signed on March 31, directs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to individuals included on a federally determined voter list. It also threatens states and election officials with potential criminal prosecution and the loss of federal funding if they fail to comply. Critics argue that these provisions could disrupt existing state-run systems for voter registration and mail-in voting, which are widely used across the country.
According to the coalition, the order represents a sweeping federal overreach that could force states to abandon their own established election procedures.
The motion argues that the directive infringes on state sovereignty, imposes significant financial and administrative burdens, and risks undermining public trust in the electoral process. It also raises concerns about legal exposure for election officials tasked with implementing rules that may conflict with existing laws.
The states involved in the lawsuit include Arizona, California, New York, Michigan, and North Carolina, among others, along with the governor of Pennsylvania. Together, they contend that both state and federal laws guarantee eligible voters the right to cast ballots, including through mail-in systems that have become a key component of modern elections.
If granted, the summary judgment would permanently block enforcement of the executive order’s key provisions, marking a significant legal setback for the administration’s efforts to reshape federal election oversight.
The case is expected to further intensify the national debate over voting rights, election security, and the balance of power between state and federal governments.
