By Maribel Velazquez
A federal judge appointed by the president donald trump refused to block a controversial executive order that seeks reform the electoral systemincluding changes related to the absentee ballot and the creation of a federal census of eligible voters.
The decision represents a new significant victory for Trump in the midst of the political and judicial battle over electoral rules leading up to the midterm elections.
Court considers it “premature” to stop the order
According to information published by AP, federal judge Carl Nichols, based in Washington DC and appointed by Trump, determined that it is still too early to suspend the measure, since several provisions of the executive order have not yet been implemented.
“The Court recognizes that Postal Service could issue final rule that directly affects the plaintiffs,” Nichols wrote in his resolution. However, he noted that plaintiffs have not yet shown immediate harm that justifies a precautionary measure.
The lawsuit was pushed by Democratic groups and civil rights organizations, which argued that the Constitution gives the states and Congress — and not the president — the authority to set election rules.
Trump insists on tightening electoral controls
The executive order was issued by Trump in Marchafter an initiative he supported to reform the federal electoral system failed in Congress.
The idea contemplates the creation of a federal list of eligible voters and raises restrictions on sending ballots by mail, a modality that Trump has repeatedly questioned since the 2020 presidential election.
After his defeat against Joe Biden, Trump maintained without evidence that mail-in voting facilitated massive electoral fraud. However, state audits, federal investigations and reviews pushed even by Republicans concluded that there was no widespread fraud.
Electoral officials and civil organizations warned that The measure could generate administrative confusion and affect access to votingespecially in states where voting by mail is widely used.
New piquant battle moves to Boston
The dispute will now continue in federal court in Boston, where voting rights organizations maintain another lawsuit against the executive order.
This It is the second time that Trump has tried to modify electoral rules through executive orders. A previous initiative, which required documentary proof of citizenship to register as a voter, was previously blocked by federal judges.
Keep reading:
- Eligible voters in California must send their ballots by mail this Tuesday, May 26
- Alarm over rejected votes in California due to delays in electoral mail
