Judge Blocks Proof-of-Citizenship Rule but Leaves Other Election Order Provisions in Place

A federal judge in Massachusetts ruled on June 24 that President Trump lacked authority to require voters to present documentation proving citizenship when registering to vote. The ruling permanently bars the administration from implementing the proof-of-citizenship provision in the March 2025 executive order.

That order had directed state and local officials to collect and report citizenship documentation on the national voter registration form.

U.S. citizenship is already required to vote in federal elections, and registration forms ask applicants to attest they are citizens. Several states argued that demanding additional documentary proof would create barriers because many government IDs do not list citizenship status and many Americans lack passports.

The judge agreed that the requirement went beyond presidential powers under the Constitution and the 1993 National Voter Registration Act, which assigns election administration authority to states and Congress. Multiple other federal courts have issued similar blocks against the requirement in recent months.

The proof-of-citizenship rule is one of several election-related measures in the March 2025 order.

New mail-in voting regulations included in the same order are also facing legal challenges.