Mercer Times

New Jersey's Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin has allied with 18 other attorneys general to challenge an executive order from President Donald J. Trump that imposes restrictions on voting procedures. The lawsuit, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, also names U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, the federal Election Assistance Commission, and other officials from the Trump Administration as defendants.

The legal action targets the "Elections Executive Order," which mandates state election officials to demand proof of citizenship from voters registering to vote. The lawsuit asserts that the executive order disrupts state practices for counting ballots, a system designed to ensure that all eligible votes are counted.

“This unconstitutional executive order is the most egregious attack on voting rights by a President in our recent history,” stated Attorney General Platkin. He emphasized the necessity of protecting the right to vote, describing the executive order as an attack on the constitutional rights of New Jersey residents. “Make no mistake: We will fight this unlawful attempt to deny voters their most sacred right.”

The coalition of attorneys general argues that the power to regulate elections primarily rests with the states and Congress, not the President. They want the court to block the provisions in question and declare them unconstitutional.

The executive order in question imposes several contested requirements, including demanding documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration on the Federal Form, obligating states to revise ballot counting laws to exclude ballots received after Election Day, and requiring overseas military personnel to provide proof of citizenship when voting. Additionally, it threatens to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply.

Attorney General Platkin's coalition includes his counterparts from Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. These states seek to safeguard their autonomy in conducting elections against federal overreach.