Archive · 27 Jul 2026
US Court Blocks Trump's Voter Citizenship List
A court ruled against President Trump's plan to create a list of eligible voters.
The plan would have used information from government databases to check if people are citizens before sending them mail ballots.
Some states and voting rights groups said the list could have errors and wrongly stop eligible voters from voting.
The court agreed and blocked the plan in 23 states.
The Trump administration says the list is needed to prevent non-citizens from voting.
The legal battle is likely to continue, and the Supreme Court might eventually decide the case.
A federal appeals court ruled against the Trump administration’s plan to create a nationwide list of eligible voters.
The ruling blocks the plan in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
The court upheld an earlier injunction issued by US District Court Judge Indira Talwani.
The Trump administration argued the list would prevent non-citizens from voting and safeguard against election fraud.
Voting rights groups and state officials warned the list could contain errors and wrongly deny eligible voters access to mail ballots.
- Who
- The 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals, President Donald Trump, 23 states and the District of Columbia
- What
- A federal appeals court ruled against the Trump administration’s plan to create a nationwide list of eligible voters.
- When
- The executive order was signed in March, and the court ruling was issued in June.
- Where
- The ruling affects 23 states and the District of Columbia.
- Why
- The court ruled that the administration cannot move ahead with mail-in voting restrictions linked to the proposed list ahead of the November midterm elections.
States Challenging the Order
Trump Administration
Constitutional Power
States Challenging the Order
The president does not have the power to set election rules; that authority belongs to individual states and Congress.
Trump Administration
The executive order is a safeguard against election fraud and helps prevent non-citizens from voting.
Potential for Errors
States Challenging the Order
The citizenship list could contain errors and create confusion during elections, wrongly removing or denying access to mail ballots for eligible voters.
Trump Administration
The list is a necessary measure to ensure the integrity of the voting process.
- Court
- 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals
- Date of Ruling
- Saturday
- States Affected
- 23 states and the District of Columbia
- Executive Order Signed By
- President Donald Trump
- Date of Executive Order
- March
- Judge
- US District Court Judge Indira Talwani
- Injunction Issued
- June