Judge Blocks Trump’s ‘Unconstitutional and Dangerous’ Order Designed to End Mail-In Voting
Yves here. The decision is a significant counter to Trump’s recent claim that there are no limits to his power. But he seems to be addicted to crimes and torture.
I am still waiting for God to strike him.
By Jessica Corbett, staff writer at Common Dreams. Originally published on Common Dreams
On the heels of a federal judge in the district of Massachusetts siding with Democratic state attorneys general who challenged President Donald Trump’s order that Americans show proof of citizenship when registering to vote, another judge in the same district on Thursday blocked key parts of Trump’s second executive order that attacks US elections.
In a recent decision, District Judge Indira Talwani struck down Section 2, which directs the US Department of Homeland Security to create a “certificated citizen list” of eligible voters, and Section 3, which directs the US Postal Service to enact rules to limit the mailing of ballots to voters not included on its list.
“The Constitution this is not the case gave the president any specific power in the election. Broadly, the Constitution grants the president ‘executive powers’ and directs him to ‘see to the faithful execution of the laws,’” wrote Talwani, a nominee of former President Barack Obama.
The judge also struck down Section 5, which requires the US Department of Justice and all other executive agencies “having appropriate authority” to “take all lawful steps to prevent and address violations of federal law,” as well as orders that states and localities “preserve, for a period of five years, all records and materials—except ballots cast—including any type of ballot. Carriers). He found this part of the order to be “merely protective.”
Several state attorneys general participated in both cases this week, including Democrat Letitia James of New York, who called Thursday’s ruling a “huge victory” and “an important step to protect the foundation of our democracy and protect the sacred right to vote.”
California Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday again enjoyed consecutive victories against the Republican president.
“Just yesterday, President Trump’s first Executive Order related to the election was blocked the second timeThe election-related executive has faced the same fate, and rightly so. As a federal judge wrote in today’s decision, ‘The Constitution does not give the president specific powers in elections.’ That power is reserved for the states and Congress,” said Bonta. That’s what we and our attorney general partners will continue to provide.”
The President cannot rewrite the electoral law.
That’s why I’ve joined attorneys general from around the country to challenge President Trump’s election orders. We have now won two court orders blocking attempts to usurp constitutionally reserved electoral powers…
— Keith Ellison (@keithellison) June 25, 2026
The AGs were not alone in challenging Trump’s order. The Association of Americans Resident Overseas, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, League of Women Voters, LWV of Massachusetts, OCA – Asian Pacific American Advocates, and the US Vote Foundation also filed, represented by the national and Massachusetts arms of the ACLU and Asian Americans Advancing Justice, the Brennan Center for Justice, the Legal Defense Fund, and the LatinoJustic Fund.
Attorneys and prosecutors in the case said in a joint statement that as Thursday’s decision “makes clear, President Trump’s March 2026 executive order to attempt to control the election is unconstitutional and dangerous.”
“This decision is an important step in maintaining free and fair elections,” they said. “The court held that the president and the executive branch lack both the legal authority and the ability to compile a complete and accurate list of US citizens or eligible voters in every state. This decision also held that the US Postal Service does not have the authority to restrict the distribution of mail ballots.”
“The court has yet to rule on our request to block the executive order’s provisions regarding mail-in voting on behalf of a non-partisan organization of voting rights organizations,” they noted. “The same thoughts that underpin today’s decision should remain with us. President Trump’s illegal executive order violates the separation of powers, threatens the integrity of our elections, and should be encouraged to run in the upcoming primary and midterm elections.”
Meanwhile, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson signaled that the administration would continue to fight, telling multiple media outlets that “President Trump is committed to ensuring that the American people have full confidence in the administration of our elections. The president’s executive order legally protects our elections, and we are confident that we will ultimately succeed in its implementation.”
Jackson reiterated the administration’s support for the proposed Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act, saying “President Trump has once again urged Congress to pass the SAVE America Act and other legislative proposals that would establish a uniform standard for photo ID for voting, deny voting without a reason to vote, and end the practice of vote harvesting to protect our elections for generations.”
On Wednesday Trump canceled his planned signing ceremony for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act “until such time as we pass the much-needed SAVE AMERICA ACT, which I consider a national emergency.”
In response, U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) summed it up: “Congress passed a massive housing bill to cut costs. But Trump just went wild. He’s refusing to sign bipartisan legislation to make housing more affordable in a bizarre attempt to rig the election.”
