By SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
A federal appeals court has upheld a lower court ruling blocking key portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to impose new restrictions on mail-in voting, citing concerns that the directive could disrupt election administration and jeopardize eligible voters’ access to the ballot.
In its decision, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit ruled that the executive order would involve the federal government in state-run elections in an unprecedented way. The three-judge panel said allowing the order to take effect before November’s midterm elections could create confusion and potentially disenfranchise qualified voters.
The lawsuit was filed by more than 20 Democratic attorneys general after Trump signed the order in March. Among its provisions, the directive called for the Department of Homeland Security to help compile state-by-state voter eligibility lists and directed the U.S. Postal Service to assist with voter verification efforts.
Attorneys representing the Trump administration argued the legal challenge was premature because the order had not been fully implemented. However, the appeals court noted that federal agencies had already begun taking steps to carry out portions of the directive.
The ruling affirms a June decision by a federal district judge, who declared major parts of the executive order “unlawful, null and void.”
The Trump administration has indicated it may appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. If accepted, the nation’s highest court could ultimately determine the future of the executive order and its impact on election procedures before upcoming federal elections.