Twenty-four Democratic-led states file lawsuit against Trump over mail-in ballot rules

A group of 23 states and the District of Columbia has filed a lawsuit against the US government in response to an executive order signed by President Donald Trump. The order aims to limit mail-in ballots before the November midterm elections.

The lawsuit, led by New York Attorney General Letitia James, argues that the executive order exceeds Trump’s presidential power. According to the Constitution, state officials are responsible for determining election rules and times. The states claim that only Congress can pass new restrictions related to election administration.

Trump has stated that his efforts are aimed at preventing voter fraud in US elections. However, independent election monitors have found a low rate of election fraud. Trump’s executive order requires the Department of Homeland Security to compile a list of eligible voters and the USPS to transmit ballots only to those on a state-specific list.

The lawsuit alleges that these measures would rely on an incomplete federal list of US citizens and place too much responsibility on the USPS. Mail-in voting has increased across the country, particularly after the COVID-19 pandemic. The states argue that forcing changes to election administration so close to the November elections will create chaos.

Trump has previously signed executive orders seeking to overhaul US election administration, although they have been blocked by the court system. The Department of Justice has also sued several states in an attempt to gain access to voter information. Trump is pushing lawmakers to pass the “SAVE America Act”, which would require increased proof of citizenship when registering to vote.

The lawsuit was filed on Friday as voting rights groups expressed concerns that Trump’s efforts are intended to make it more difficult for people to vote before the midterm elections.

Source: Al Jazeera