On Monday, the Democratic National Committee (DNC), along with several other groups and party leaders, filed multiple lawsuits against President Trump’s latest executive order, which they argue is unconstitutional and threatens the integrity of U.S. elections.
Trump’s order would force states to require proof of citizenship for voter registration, toss out late-arriving absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections, and give the newly created Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by tech mogul Elon Musk, unrestricted access to national voter rolls.
“This is a blatant attempt by Donald Trump and DOGE to push their discredited conspiracy theories and lay the groundwork to discard legitimate votes,” the Democratic groups declared in a statement. “It’s a direct attack on our democracy, and we are using every tool – including the courts – to stop this illegal power grab.”
Joining the DNC in the fight are the Democratic Governors Association, Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.), and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.).
The legal battle is heating up, with multiple lawsuits already filed against Trump’s order. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), Secure Families Initiative, and the Arizona Students’ Association argue that the order is “unconstitutional” in their own lawsuit. They claim it undermines the constitutionally protected checks and balances that ensure fair elections and gives Trump sweeping power over election rules that should be in the hands of states and Congress.
Another lawsuit, filed by major voting rights groups, accuses Trump of violating the separation of powers by trying to override state and congressional authority over elections. They argue that the order, based on false and racially charged claims, would disenfranchise millions of eligible voters, particularly communities of color and low-income Americans. This move mirrors the controversial SAVE Act, which would create unnecessary hurdles to voter registration.
Despite facing mounting legal challenges, the White House has defended Trump’s actions. Harrison Fields, White House principal deputy press secretary, insisted the order would preserve “free” and “fair” elections by imposing higher standards. He dismissed Democrats’ objections, accusing them of undermining election integrity with their “insane” resistance to requiring proof of citizenship.
However, Democrats fire back, arguing that the order unfairly targets states with longstanding laws that allow late ballots to be counted if received within a specific time. They accuse Trump of disregarding state rights and imposing burdens on voters, particularly military families, women, and low-income communities trying to register for federal elections.
The lawsuit also warns that the order would force federal agencies to hand over sensitive personal information about millions of voters to DOGE, without any legal authority or consent – a dangerous overreach that threatens voter privacy.
