Courts Check Trump Moves to Suppress Voting Access
NEWS & RESEARCH
President Trump has proposed policies to centralize election control and restrict voting access. Key initiatives, including the "SAVE Act" and a March 2026 executive order, aim to eliminate mail-in voting, mandate re-registration, and require strict proof of citizenship and residency. The administration has also repurposed a centralized national database for checking immigration status into a tool for mointoring voting. On June 25, 2026, federal Judge Indira Talwani ruled that major parts of Trump’s March 2026 EO exceeded the president’s power and violated the separation of powers by encroaching on states’ authority to administer elections. Also in June, federal Judge Sparkle Sooknanan ordered the Department of Homeland Security to block states from searching the national database, which also includes Social Security records. And a federal judge in Maryland was the latest in more than a half-dozen decisions rejecting US Department of Justice efforts to access a state’s voter rolls. Additionally, Trump allies have suggested deploying immigration enforcement officers to polling sites which could intimidate prospective voters.
SOURCES: NPR | Brennan Center | New York Times | Democracy Docket
ANALYSIS & OPINION
Critics describe these moves as an unprecedented effort to undermine election integrity. The Brennan Center characterized the proposals as "sometimes illegal," while the Campaign Legal Center warned they create "new barriers" that silence millions. The New York Times noted that the latest executive order relies on "false claims of fraud" and faces questions regarding its constitutionality.
SOURCES: Brennan Center | New York Times | Campaign Legal Center
HOW TO FIX IT
Congress and legal advocates should:
Block the SAVE Act in the Senate.
Pass the Voter Empowerment Act (VEA) to expand voting access.
Legislate bans on federal law enforcement (including ICE) and armed agents at polling places.
Support litigation by state attorneys general and civil rights groups challenging the constitutionality of restrictive executive orders.
Legislation:H.R.8078 - Voter Empowerment Act of 2026
