Trump EOs and DOJ/DHS Actions Targeting Elections and Voter Rolls
Key Questions
What court actions have blocked Trump's election-related executive orders?
Multiple federal courts, including appeals panels, have permanently blocked key parts of Trump's executive orders on mail-in voting and USPS rules. Judges have rejected administration attempts to lift injunctions, with cases like those in the First Circuit and involving Judge Sullivan upholding blocks on federal overreach.
How are states addressing concerns about noncitizen voting?
Illinois election officials maintain that their voter registration systems are accurate and guard against noncitizen voting. Meanwhile, DHS has ordered ICE to crack down on the issue, though 23 states are suing to block related Trump mail-in EOs.
What is the status of the Supreme Court case Watson v. RNC?
The Supreme Court heard Watson v. RNC and decided 5-4 in favor of mail voting for voters with disabilities, with Justice Barrett in the majority. This ruling supports expanded access despite other Trump administration efforts.
Why are Democratic governors challenging USPS rules on mail ballots?
Democratic governors are urging USPS to drop its mail ballot rule after a court block, arguing it interferes with voting access. The rule was part of broader Trump efforts that courts have consistently rejected as executive overreach.
What new incidents involve federal officers at polling places?
Federal officers confronted a poll worker at a polling place over a social media post, amid expanding FBI probes of voting rights groups and the Mississippi SHIELD Act taking effect July 1.
Judge Sooknanan’s October 9 ruling found DOJ’s nationwide voter-roll eligibility program unlawful. A separate lawsuit alleges DHS gathered records from at least 47 states and sought links to ICE systems; those claims remain unresolved. In California, DOJ is suing to block ballots tied to roughly 20,000 people it suspects are noncitizens, while Trump and DOJ have threatened prosecution of officials who count them; federal agents have also reportedly seized Fulton County election records amid noncitizen-voting disputes. The California list’s accuracy and the court’s response remain disputed, and no midterm ballot-seizure plan has been established.