Overview: On March 31, President Trump signed an executive order in another attempt to steer American elections. The order, among other things, would create lists of U.S. citizens who are eligible to vote in each state and compel the U.S. Postal Service to send mail-in ballots to only those “verified” voters.
WASHINGTON – The Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the NAACP, Common Cause, and Black Voters Matter Fund filed a lawsuit against President Trump challenging his new executive order on mail-in voting.
Shaylyn Cochran, deputy executive director for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “The executive order is unlawful, unconstitutional, and a clear overreach of executive power. It reflects yet another dangerous attempt by this administration to erect obstacles to the ballot and to intimidate voters. If left to stand, the executive order would upend state laws and procedures on voting, tread on the Constitution, and threaten to shut out a significant number of Black voters from the political process. In filing today’s lawsuit, we are standing up for the rule of law and standing by the Lawyers’ Committee’s founding commitment to making the promises of our democracy real.”
Rob Weiner, Voting Rights Project director at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “The executive order sets the stage for an absolute train wreck in future elections. The Lawyers’ Committee convenes the Election Protection hotline and we encourage voters with questions to contact us at 866-OUR-VOTE. But apart from the confusion and chaos the executive order will cause, it’s deeply concerning that this administration is trying to create lists of people that it does and does not want voting. This order represents one more effort to undermine free and democratic elections.”
“Americans in every corner of our country, rural and urban, Black and white, rich and poor, healthy and infirm, civilian and servicemember, have participated in mail-in voting for decades without issue,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “This executive order sows chaos and discourages voter participation in the midterm elections. The NAACP will continue to turn to the courts to ensure that everyone can have a voice in our elections.”
“Mail in voting is so safe that even the president uses it when he votes,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, Common Cause president and CEO. “This is yet another attempt by President Trump to nationalize elections so he can pick and choose who gets to vote. Common Cause and our 1 million members firmly reject any president setting election law, especially as a last ditch effort to avoid accountability.”
“This executive order targeting mail-in ballots is unlawful and usurps congressional authority in order to stop the midterm elections. This is another blatant attempt to undermine the people’s power,” said Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter. “We’re joining this lawsuit to stop this administration from silencing the voices of millions of Americans. Black Voters Matter will continue to fight for free, fair, and accessible elections.”