Court Blocks Proof-of-Citizenship Voter Registration Mandate

A federal judge blocked the administration's attempt to require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration through a presidential directive, ruling that the president lacked authority to rewrite voter-registration rules that the Constitution assigns to Congress and the states.

The ruling addresses a separation-of-powers and federalism question central to U.S. elections: authority over voter registration and eligibility rules rests with Congress and state governments, not unilateral executive directive. A ruling against the mandate preserves existing registration procedures against alteration by executive order alone.

The court blocked the requirement, ruling it exceeded constitutional executive authority.