THE CENTER SQUARE—Democrat officials from 23 states and the District of Columbia announced Friday they’re suing to block President Donald Trump’s recent executive order regulating mail-in and absentee ballots.
The suit was slated to be filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. A copy of the lawsuit wasn’t available as of press time.
Trump doesn’t have the constitutional authority to control elections, California Attorney General Rob Bonta told reporters during a news conference Friday morning. Bonta, a Democrat who’s co-leading the coalition of plaintiffs, noted the authority rests with states and Congress, not the federal executive branch.
“The framers of our Constitution made sure that how we choose our leaders is not put in the hands of a single leader,” such as Trump, Bonta said.
Others co-leading the coalition of plaintiffs are Attorneys General Andrea Joy Campbell of Massachusetts, Aaron Ford of Nevada, and Nick Brown of Washington state.
The Center Square reached out Friday morning to the White House, which noted the Republican president’s order was designed to secure elections.
“Only Democrat politicians and operatives would be upset about lawful efforts to secure American elections and ensure only eligible American citizens are casting ballots,” White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson said, answering The Center Square’s questions by email. “President Trump campaigned on securing our elections, and the American people sent him back to the White House to get the job done.”
Trump’s executive order, which was issued on March 31, is titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections.” It cites the Help America Vote Act of 2002, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 and the federal government’s obligation to ensure a republican form of government in every state under Article IV, Section 4, of the U.S. Constitution.
The order also refers to federal laws prohibiting noncitizens from registering to vote or voting in federal elections and the executive branch’s duty to enforce federal laws under Article II of the Constitution.
The executive order directs the secretary of homeland security to compile lists of U.S. citizens who are 18 or older and send them to the chief election official of each state. The order says the list would be based on federal citizenship and naturalization records, Social Security records, SAVE data (used to verify citizenship) and other federal databases.
The order says states must notify the U.S. Postal Service no fewer than 90 days before a federal election if they are using the postal service to deliver mail-in or absentee ballots. The order also says states must send a list of eligible voters to the postal service no fewer than 60 days before a federal election.
Bonta noted the order threatens states with loss of federal funding for failure to comply.
And he contended Trump’s executive order would disrupt the process in which every registered voter in California automatically gets a ballot in the mail.
“Protecting elections is not partisan. Every eligible voter should be able to vote,” Bonta said. “That is foundational to our democracy.”
Bonta said he doesn’t believe the executive order came soon enough to impact California’s June 2 primary, but said it could interfere with the Nov. 3 general election. He added that Trump is concerned about Republicans losing congressional seats.
In addition to officials in California, Massachusetts, Washington state, Nevada and the District of Columbia, the lawsuit against Trump’s executive order is being filed by Democratic attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Wisconsin. Democratic Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is also among the plaintiffs.
Dave Mason is a regional editor for The Center Square.
Reprinted with permission from The Daily Signal by Dave Mason.
The opinions expressed by columnists are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of AMAC or AMAC Action.
We need Mr. Bonta to know, that President Trump is just reminding those who have chosen to forget, that only citizens of our country can vote, live citizens, and that their vote must be counted by end of Election Day. Also, its a comfort for me to show my ID on election day, and also everyone I know feels the same.
Could the democrat party be supporting these loose rules to enable some to cheat?
The “DONKEY” party will continue to keep all means of “CHEATING” open at all levels of governmental elections.
Calling them Democrats is being kind, these people are Anti-American Communists, who cheat at everything they do!
We want only American citizens to be able to vote in our elections. Clean up the voter rolls so we can have fair and safe elections.
Of course they did, they want to be able to cheat in the elections, otherwise they can’t win.
Wake up America the cheaters are on the loose.
Bonta has a record of being on the wrong side of MANY cases! He just got smacked down of hiding “gender changes” from parents! Sending ballots to everyone who is registered is good ONLY IF the crooked DIMMs don’t register illegal aliens! And that is a big IF! Plus, they don’t delete dead people and people who moved out of state which allows more crooks to impersonate non-eligible voters! Look up Democrat and it will say CROOK!
When you sue to block election integrity you, and everyone who support you, are subversives…at the very least.
Is Demonrat AG Bonta that lame to think that the states represented in this lawfare are so inept that mail in ballots can’t be sent out earlier. He must think that those people affected can’t send in their ballots early enough to meet the election day requirement? No, none of the above! He just wants to follow the Demonrat play book so more blue votes ca be manipulated! When will these radical Demonrats start working for the American people as opposed to installing their socialist agenda to destroy our beautiful country?
Bringing back the old rules (prior to Covid) of voting in-person on election day, Absentee Ballots used only when applied for with good reason, is NOT disallowing people to vote.
Of course they do. They can’t win if they can’t cheat! And they are relying on the corrupt judicial system to pull them out on this one otherwise they’re going to be out of office forever. You can’t make this stuff up they are so predictable. They are so obvious they might as well wear a great big sign that says we cheat, and we will fight to the end to preserve our right to cheat
Not surprised. This paints the portrait of the Demonrats and their agenda: LIE, CHEAT, AND STEAL. Take control at any cost. What’s so tragic is, even though their bombastic motives have been exposed, they have no shame and idiots STILL vote them into power.
How can anyone be confused about something so simple. American CITIZENS vote in American elections.
Only those that want to cheat want to remove this restriction.
Here we go again. Taking it to the courts. The democrats don’t want fair election. They don’t even want citizens to vote. That’s why they brought and invited 20 million illegals so they would vote for them. No president has that power. No the democrats manipulated it to the states so the states could sue the president. If the congress is in charge why won’t they pass the safe act or fund DHS or ICE because they don’t want authority or safety for the citizens. They want to create anarchy where everything is allowed. Lawlessness, immorality and especially no religion. There can be only one God in their world and that is a democrat in the White House. Citizens please protect President Trump because without him we will live in a country where anything goes and we will be the slaves to the millionaires and billionaires that have financed all this to date.
Someone needs to change their diapers! I’m so tired of them whining about EVERYTHING!
Americans want honest clean elections. Seems to me all this AG does is spend millions on suing Trump. Fraud, questionable elections and no transparency is against democracy.
How can anyone be confused about something so simple. American citizens vote for Americans.
Only those that want to cheat disagree.
My question is why these states are complaining about not having the funds to do the job they are supposedly already doing —have a voting roll system that is updated to current list of already certified registered voters even if there’s an active push to enroll new voters—most states should have a systematic process that allows voters to register but only lets the verified-by a date—to be allowed to vote using the ballot machines. Anyone else—using the excuse of Claiming right to register and vote last minute—should be voting via affidavit ballots which are not counted until the individual’s status information is verified. There should be no reason to claim that this is harassment or denial of voting rights because if all these last minute suddenly registered voters are all verified citizens. And it also is not harassment or discrimination to have a date limitation for verification of the voter. Procrastination and/or not finding time to get registered doesn’t mean that one is being denied the right to vote because you are too lazy to make the effort. Voting is a civil duty not a right and expecting to be spoon fed through the process is not a right because you are lazy and also allows for rigging the counts tallies because it delays the process which should be tallied immediately at close of the voting day—Election Day
“Protecting elections is not partisan. Every eligible voter should be able to vote,” Bonta said. “That is foundational to our democracy.” Keyword being “eligible” what’s to stop an ineligible voter from voting with mail in ballot and then again at the polls? And we are NOT a democracy-we are a Republic.
Anything to try and block what hinders their ability to cheat. They are a disgrace.
P.S. Cheaters never win and winners never cheat.
Listen ALL Democrats:
We Do Not Want ANY Illegals voting in our elections….PERIOD.
The Democratic Party and their allies are all enemies of our country and are treasonous people who should be punished by death! The Democratic Party calls for a revolution, I say bring it on! Tell China to mind their own business along with the CCP and stay away or else! It is time to take our country back from all of the corrupt governments who think they can control us!
Those suing seem to be a list of blue states. Gee, I wonder why, if there’s no cheating going on? The FBI needs to be investigating cheating going on by all on this list!
Not surprised that the Democrats sued, to block election integrity,they want to cheat.They are like a bunch of rabid dogs, foaming at the mouth, looking for anything to fight Trump on.
Hopefully the SCOTUS decision by June on case before them now will settle this once for all. BUT knowing the Dems in politics, their attempts to undermine any and all “integrity” efforts will continue. It is absolutely necessary for all Caring citizens to vote this November for candidates who respect and defend the Constitution, our Republic and integrity (voting and otherwise).
I can’t believe this outright trick against Trump is being allowed. Ssomeone with authority needs to stop it NOW!!!
They want 2020 reruns forever
So the new communist party of America, formerly known as the democrat party, is filing a lawsuit to make sure that our election process is disrupted, corrupt, and fraudulent. And with a straight face these insidious pathological liars try to convince you that it is to “save democracy”! And election day has now become election season. All of it brought to you by the New Communist Party of America, (formerly known as the democrat party).
This from the ignorants who scream no Kings.
Thank you President Trump. Shame on the left globalists who wanted you to fail.
To our soldiers for their hard work and we will remember those who lost their lives so we can live safe in the foreseeable future. Especially in the Middle East. President stayed steadfast while the left tried to undermine his resolve.
The only thing the executive order may disrupt would be the Democratic Marxists cheating in elections.
When did we begin allowing communists to run for public office in America?
The state of NC voted for Trump. It is beyond me, how the states’ AG gets to drag NC into this lawsuit. The NC state AG does not represent the majority but for some reason I get the feeling we will be footing the bill!
The funny thing is that even Democrats from past administrations going back to Jimmy Carter have admitted that mail-in ballots make it easier to cheat. This group of Dems seem hellbent on keeping elections fraudulent.
Sounds as though the dems fear losing half of their constituency. What a shame!
There is but one reason to oppose election integrity.
Rats are totally dependent on fraud. Always have been, imo.
The former Democrats, now the Communists who live here are common criminals who are working to destroy our country from within. The have thoroughly brainwashed millions of our people by taking over our education system for the last 50 years. They will always cheat and lie to get their way. Now that the Muslims have joined them in great numbers, our decline will speed up rapidly. Stupid people can be made to change their minds while Communists and radical Muslims are hell-bent on taking over the World. The only way we can beat them is take our kids out of public schools that are rife with personnel who have no intention of educating them. Parents who are Christian patriots need to raise their kids to see the evil in what the radicals are trying to bring to our country. AND PRAY THAT GOD CAN FIND A WAY TO LET TRUTH WIN!
We know the democraps have been cheating in elections, at least since 2008, when Obama was elected. Elections must be secure, or they are useless, as we can see now, with a president elected by the majority of people can’t get things done because of all democraps in office due to cheating. We have nothing else to maintain out freedoms peacefully, except elections. But remember, democraps, we are an armed citizenry, actually a very heavily armed citizenry. Look at Iran. The people there protested, and they were gunned down in the streets, now its between 30,000 and 40,000 people killed by their own government. That’s what happens to unarmed citizens with unfair elections. But our founders were far smarter, they made sure we have the means to fight back, regardless of how horrible it would be. Our only recourse if we can not trust elections results is revolution. Civil war, Americans killing Americans and illegal aliens, because the left will try to import more criminals to fight for them. The SAVE Act is needed to prevent civil war, and it will protect democraps every bit as much as it protects Republicans. Maybe, if democraps had to be concerned about people really voting for them, legally, they would act a little more rationally, and develop real platforms and policies, other than just doing the opposite and undoing everything Trump does. All of their efforts and money and energy is going to only one thing, being against Trump. That’s the only thing they can think about, or try to accomplish, is to get rid of Trump. The only federal candidates they can come up with is Newscum and Camel bitch. Maybe Somali Walz too. The choice is clear. Pass the SAVE Act, or we will go through a civil war, which conservatives will quickly win, due to being far better armed, and superior intelligence. The SAVE Act is for all parties, it does not discriminate, all Americans have ID, even most homeless people. Democraps need to learn to win without cheating, and stop being on the side of what most of America does not want, if they want to win elections legally.
Some idiot liberal judge will rule against President Trump.
The Marxist/Democrats will do anything to continue to cheat! Their mission is to destroy America. Do not vote Democrat because they are no longer a party that supports American values.
I don’t know if Trump would have won if the Democrats hadn’t so angered the American public with their accursed Lawfare! It was the people’s message to cut the crap but instead they have escalated this tactic. The sheer fury the American voters will unleash on the Democrats in this upcoming Mid Term to let them know Lawfare is not tolerated will be immense! They have got people so mad at these imbeciles refusal to listen to us. Everyone who was going to sit out the election will now come out and joyfully take part in ending these bastards!
Those nefarious Actors, in this case all those corrupt and fraudulent Leftist, Communist, Atheistic, Democrats, are fighting hard against having a Legitimate Voting process in place for all Americans so Integrity is restored to our all important Free, Fair, Elections throughout all States! Americans need to take note of all who oppose Election Integrity and be double sure they be acted against! Make Law Breakers pay! End these on the Left and their hatred towards America and its Citizens!
No, Bonta and the other liberal officials are concerned that the illegal voters will not be able to get their votes in so they will be able to illegally vote in the midterm elections
Wow, Democrats against election integrity. How correct, as no one has ever accused a Democrat of having integrity.
Listen to Bonta’s whitewash statement is saying: “And he contended Trump’s executive order would disrupt the process in which every registered voter in California automatically gets a ballot in the mail.
What most people don’t understand is that California is proud of its “Motor Voter” law. They give drivers licenses to illegals. When a drivers license is issued, the recipient is automatically “REGISTERED TO VOTE”. What he is acknowledging is that they are knowingly giving ballots to illegal aliens. That says it all.
Without rampant fraud, Democrats will never gain another seat.
Congress needs to do its job so our president Donald J Trump can concentrate on other issues.
This tell us all we need to know about the radical left socialist/democrats.
This is what the radical liberals do to show us how much they hate President Trump and his putting America first. The radical liberals are on a quest to destroy our country. It gets more clear each day that they are on the evil side of every issue. All we can do is vote RED in every election and support those Republicans who are running for offices at all levels…local, state and federal.
I am quite sure when the founding fathers set up our system, vote by mail was not a thing. From this article, I see noting mentioned in the executive order that would prevent an eligible registered voter from casting a ballot. I am not surprised that it was California with its vast population of illegal immigrants, that had a problem with not “mailing out ballots to everyone” to where anyone who can get their hands on a ballot can vote, whether they are eligible or not. Personally I feel that the votes of any state that can not show they have a system of voter integrity measures in place, should not be counted in a federal election. I also think that any ballots by mail counted need to be evidenced that the signatures were verified.