A federal judge has blocked President Donald Trump from enforcing an executive order that would require voters to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote. The ruling, issued on June 24, 2026, by U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, declared the requirement unconstitutional, stating it imposed an undue burden on the right to vote and exceeded the president's authority.
Court Ruling Details
Judge Chutkan wrote in her 45-page opinion that the proof of citizenship mandate violated the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment and the National Voter Registration Act. She noted that the requirement would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly minorities, the elderly, and low-income individuals who may lack easy access to citizenship documents. The ruling came in response to a lawsuit filed by the League of Women Voters and several civil rights organizations.
According to the court, the executive order, signed by Trump on June 22, 2026, sought to require documentary proof of citizenship for federal elections, overriding state-level voter registration rules. The judge emphasized that states, not the federal government, have primary authority over election administration.
White House Response
The White House issued a statement expressing disappointment, calling the ruling "an attack on election integrity." Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said, "President Trump is committed to ensuring that only American citizens vote in American elections. We will appeal this decision and continue to fight for common-sense voter ID laws." However, the administration did not provide evidence of widespread non-citizen voting, which studies have shown is extremely rare.
Impact on Voters
Advocacy groups praised the decision. Dale Ho, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, stated, "This ruling is a victory for democracy. The proof of citizenship requirement was a solution in search of a problem, designed to suppress the vote rather than protect it." The League of Women Voters reported that the requirement could have prevented an estimated 9 million eligible U.S. citizens from voting, including 1.5 million who lack a birth certificate or passport.
Legal Precedent
The case echoes previous challenges to voter ID laws. In 2013, the Supreme Court struck down a similar Arizona proof of citizenship requirement in Arizona v. Inter Tribal Council of Arizona, ruling that the National Voter Registration Act preempted state laws demanding documentary proof. Judge Chutkan cited this precedent, noting that Trump's order would effectively reinstate such requirements nationwide.
Next Steps
The Justice Department is expected to file an emergency appeal to the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals. Legal experts predict the case could ultimately reach the Supreme Court. Meanwhile, the ruling remains in effect for the upcoming November elections, allowing voters to register without proof of citizenship documents.
