{"id":1915,"date":"2026-01-07T19:58:44","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T00:58:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/?p=1915"},"modified":"2026-01-07T21:37:34","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T02:37:34","slug":"voting-rights-and-elections-restrictions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/digitaljournalism.uconn.edu\/balance-of-power\/2026\/01\/07\/voting-rights-and-elections-restrictions\/","title":{"rendered":"Voting Rights and Elections Restrictions"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Press Release<\/strong>:<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Law\u00adsuit Over Unlaw\u00adful Exec\u00adu\u00adtive Order Seek\u00ading to Impose Sweep\u00ading Vot\u00ading Restric\u00adtions<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preceding Event<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

On March 25, 2025, Pres\u00adi\u00addent Don\u00adald Trump signed Exec\u00adu\u00adtive Order 14248<\/a> (EO) aimed at impos\u00ading vot\u00ading restric\u00adtions across the coun\u00adtry. The EO dis\u00adal\u00adlows the accep\u00adtance of mail-in bal\u00adlots after Elec\u00adtion Day, regard\u00adless of when the bal\u00adlot was mailed. The EO requires proof of cit\u00adi\u00adzen\u00adship from those enrolled in pub\u00adlic assis\u00adtance pro\u00adgrams and the cer\u00adti\u00adfi\u00adca\u00adtion of vot\u00ading sys\u00adtems. A sig\u00adnif\u00adi\u00adcant, repeat\u00aded part of the EO threat\u00adens to with\u00adhold fund\u00ading to the states if they are deemed non\u00adcom\u00adpli\u00adant with new pro\u00advi\u00adsions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

General Overview<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The law\u00adsuit argued that the EO, referred to in the law\u00adsuit as the \u201cElec\u00adtions Exec\u00adu\u00adtive Order\u201d, vio\u00adlates the prin\u00adci\u00adple that \u201cThe Pres\u00adi\u00addent has no con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal pow\u00ader to rewrite State elec\u00adtion laws by decree, nor does the Pres\u00adi\u00addent have the author\u00adi\u00adty to mod\u00adi\u00adfy the rules Con\u00adgress has cre\u00adat\u00aded for elec\u00adtions.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Essen\u00adtial\u00adly, the plain\u00adtiffs argued, Con\u00adgress and the states them\u00adselves are the only bod\u00adies that have the author\u00adi\u00adty to reg\u00adu\u00adlate how elec\u00adtions are con\u00adduct\u00aded, and thus the EO exceeds the scope of the Pres\u00adi\u00adden\u00adt\u2019s pow\u00aders. \u201cIt inter\u00adferes with States\u2019 inher\u00adent sov\u00ader\u00adeign\u00adty and their con\u00adsti\u00adtu\u00adtion\u00adal pow\u00ader to reg\u00adu\u00adlate the time, place, and man\u00adner of fed\u00ader\u00adal elec\u00adtions,\u201d the law\u00adsuit said. \u201cIt also usurps Congress\u2019s pow\u00aders to leg\u00adis\u00adlate (under the Elec\u00adtions Clause) and to appro\u00adpri\u00adate (under the Spend\u00ading Clause) because Con\u00adgress has not cho\u00adsen to imple\u00adment the changes the Pres\u00adi\u00addent seeks to impose by decree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The crit\u00adi\u00adcal funds at issue have in large mea\u00adsure already been appro\u00adpri\u00adat\u00aded by Con\u00adgress. And if these coer\u00adcive threats were not enough, the Elec\u00adtions EO threat\u00adens to tar\u00adget Plain\u00adtiff States with Depart\u00adment of Jus\u00adtice inves\u00adti\u00adga\u00adtions and poten\u00adtial pros\u00ade\u00adcu\u00adtion.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Con\u00adnecti\u00adcut Attor\u00adney Gen\u00ader\u00adal William Tong joined a coali\u00adtion of 19 attor\u00adneys gen\u00ader\u00adal in fil\u00ading the law\u00adsuit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Date of filing<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

April 3, 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case #<\/strong>:<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

1:25-cv-10810<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Case title:<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

State of Cal\u00adi\u00adfor\u00adnia et al v. Trump et al<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Plaintiffs<\/strong>: 19 states<\/h3>\n\n\n\n