In a significant legal setback for the Trump administration, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper issued a preliminary injunction on June 13, 2025, halting key components of former President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at overhauling federal election procedures. The ruling, delivered in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, challenges the administration’s efforts to impose stricter voting regulations nationwide.
Judge Casper’s decision specifically targets provisions of the executive order that mandated documentary proof of U.S. citizenship for voter registration and restricted the counting of mail-in ballots to those received by Election Day. The judge determined that these measures likely exceed presidential authority and infringe upon states’ rights to manage elections, as delineated in the U.S. Constitution. The ruling emphasized that only Congress holds the power to regulate federal elections, and the president cannot unilaterally impose such requirements.
The executive order, signed by President Trump on March 25, 2025, directed federal and local officials to enforce new voting regulations, including verifying citizenship status before distributing voter registration forms at public assistance agencies like Medicaid offices. It also sought to prevent states from counting ballots that were mailed on or before Election Day but arrived afterward and aimed to prohibit voters from correcting minor errors on their ballots. Judge Casper’s injunction blocks these provisions, citing concerns over their legality and potential to disenfranchise eligible voters.
The lawsuit leading to this injunction was filed by Democratic attorneys general from 19 states, who argued that the executive order unlawfully encroached upon state sovereignty and imposed burdensome requirements without congressional approval. They contended that the order would disrupt established election procedures and disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, including military personnel and overseas voters.
This ruling follows a similar decision in Washington, D.C., where a federal judge previously blocked parts of the same executive order, including the proof-of-citizenship requirement for the federal voter registration form. However, Judge Casper’s injunction goes further by also halting provisions related to mail-in ballots and voter error corrections.
The Trump administration defended the executive order as a measure to enhance election integrity and prevent noncitizen voting, despite a lack of evidence supporting widespread voter fraud. Critics argue that the order is based on unsubstantiated claims and could lead to voter suppression, particularly among marginalized communities.
Legal experts have widely criticized the executive order, asserting that it oversteps presidential authority and undermines the constitutional balance of power between federal and state governments. They warn that such unilateral actions could set a dangerous precedent and erode public trust in the electoral process.
Judge Casper’s injunction underscores the judiciary’s role in checking executive power and upholding constitutional principles. As legal challenges to the executive order continue, this decision represents a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over voting rights and federalism in the United States.
