A federal judge has derailed President Donald Trump’s push to secure federal elections, temporarily blocking key parts of his March 25, 2025, executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.
U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly’s April 24, 2025, ruling, reported by Axios, marks another instance of judicial overreach stifling efforts to ensure only legal citizens cast ballots.
The decision fuels conservative frustration with activist judges who seem to prioritize legal technicalities over the public’s demand for election integrity.
As the related Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE) Act faces slim chances in the Senate, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called it “dead on arrival,” and Democrats, with 41 seats, cite disenfranchisement risks. The ACLU and Brennan Center, which sued against the order, claim 9% of voters—21.3 million—lack easy access to documents.
Trump’s executive order aimed to strengthen federal voter registration by requiring documentary proof of citizenship—such as a passport, Real ID, or military ID—on the federal form managed by the Election Assistance Commission.
It also sought to withhold federal funding from states counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day, a practice allowed in 18 states if postmarked by the deadline, and directed the Department of Homeland Security and Department of Justice to verify voter eligibility and prosecute election crimes.
These steps, Trump argued, would restore trust in a system plagued by skepticism.
Kollar-Kotelly’s 120-page opinion halted the citizenship proof requirement, asserting it violates the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), which Congress passed without such a mandate.
The ruling dovetails with the SAVE Act, passed by the House on April 10, 2025, with a 220-208 vote, including four Democrats. Republican Rep. Chip Davies said, “The American people want to know their elections are secure and that only citizens are voting. The SAVE Act is a common-sense step to prevent noncitizen voting, which undermines the integrity of our democracy.”
White House spokesman Harrison Fields vowed to fight, stating, “President Trump will keep battling for election integrity, despite Democrat objections.”
Kollar-Kotelly’s ruling echoes judicial blocks on Trump’s agenda, raising conservative concerns about an activist judiciary overriding the public’s will. Why are judges and Senate Democrats valuing legal details over secure elections?
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