A fresh legal fight is brewing over President Donald Trump’s latest move to shake up how Americans vote. On April 1, 2025, Democratic groups and a handful of non-profit organizations filed lawsuits in Washington, DC’s federal district court, challenging an executive order Trump signed on March 25. The order demands proof of citizenship—like a passport or military ID—to register to vote in federal elections, and it’s got people riled up on both sides.
Pushback from Democratic Groups and Non-Profits
The pushback came fast. The Democratic National Committee (DNC), along with groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), the NAACP, and the ACLU, say the order’s a power grab that could keep millions from voting. “This is an attack on our democracy,” the DNC’s lawsuit claims, arguing Trump’s stepping on Congress and the states’ toes—where election rules are supposed to come from. They’re worried it’ll hit hardest folks who don’t have those IDs handy, like young people, military families abroad, or anyone who’s moved around a lot.
Details of the Executive Order
Trump’s order doesn’t stop there. It also wants all ballots in by Election Day—no counting late arrivals, even if they’re mailed on time—something 18 states and Puerto Rico currently allow. It’s pushing the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), a small bipartisan agency, to redo voter forms and threatens to pull federal cash from states that don’t play along. The White House says it’s all about stopping non-citizens from voting, a claim Trump’s hammered since losing in 2020, though studies show that’s super rare.
The Lawsuits
The lawsuits—two big ones so far—call it illegal and unfair. “The President can’t just rewrite election laws,” the non-profit coalition’s filing says, pointing to the Constitution and the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which only asks voters to swear they’re citizens under penalty of perjury. They argue tons of eligible Americans—maybe 21 million, per the Brennan Center—don’t have easy access to passports or other accepted IDs. Plus, the order’s vague on state forms, leaving room for chaos.
Trump’s Defenders and Critics
Trump’s team isn’t backing down. “We’re fixing a broken system,” a White House statement said, tying it to his long fight about election “integrity.” Supporters like Georgia’s Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger cheer the citizenship check, but critics like Colorado’s Jena Griswold call it “unlawful” and a voter suppression trick. Posts on X are split—some say it’s common sense, others scream it’s a way to “silence” certain voters.
A History of Election-Related Legal Battles
This isn’t Trump’s first election rodeo—he’s faced lawsuits over voter fraud claims before, like his 2017 commission that fizzled out. Now, with the case League of Women Voters v. Trump and the DNC’s suit in play, it’s headed for a courtroom showdown. Legal experts bet it’ll get messy—states run elections, not the president, and the EAC isn’t his puppet. For now, the order’s on hold as judges dig in, but it’s clear: this fight’s just getting started.