Federal judge will hear arguments as groups try to block Trump’s executive order on elections

By ALI SWENSON NEW YORK AP A federal judge on Thursday will hear arguments in three cases from national Democrats and voting rights groups that are challenging President Donald Trump s contemporary executive order on elections which among other changes would require proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections Related Articles How war money and the quest for discovery entwined the US executive and universities Draft budget plan proposes deep cuts across federal fitness programs Why Elon Musk installed his top lieutenants at a federal agency you apparently haven t heard of Judge says labor unions lawsuit over DOGE access to Labor Department systems can move forward DOGE targets a public organization scheme in its latest cost-cutting effort The Democratic National Committee the League of United Latin American Citizens the League of Women Voters Instruction Fund and others are seeking to block Trump s sweeping overhaul of federal polling processes alleging that the changes he wants are unconstitutional The Republican president s executive order says the U S has failed to enforce basic and necessary balloting protections and calls on states to work with federal agencies to share voter lists and prosecute poll crimes It threatens to pull federal funding from states where polling representatives don t comply It also aims to mandate major changes to polling processes including adding a proof-of-citizenship requirement to the federal voter registration form and requiring all mail ballots to be received rather than just postmarked by Electoral contest Day nationwide The plaintiffs argue Trump s order is illegal because it asserts power that he does not have over an independent agency That agency the U S Electoral process Assistance Commission sets voluntary voting system guidelines and maintains the federal voter registration form The plaintiffs also argue the order violates the Constitution which says that states not the president get to decide the times places and manner of how elections are run The Constitution s so-called Elections Clause also gives Congress the power to make or alter electoral process regulations at least for federal office but it doesn t mention any presidential authority over ballot administration U S District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly in Washington D C will consider the plaintiffs pleas for a preliminary injunction temporarily blocking the order as the lawsuits play out She instructed the parties to be prepared to discuss a range of topics including whether the Voting process Assistance Commission can comply with Trump s demands while following the law and whether the plaintiffs have standing to raise each of their suggests A sign for new voter registration is seen outside a polling location at Pinkerton Academy in Derry N H Tuesday March AP Photo Reba Saldanha Justin Levitt a former Justice Department attorney and a White House adviser during President Joe Biden s administration reported the Constitution is clear that the president has very little authority to regulate federal elections But he disclosed he expects the hearing will include debate over whether these groups have standing to sue and whether it is the appropriate time to bring a lawsuit This is a pretty easy circumstance when it comes to the legal merits but whether they get to the legal merits is not trivial he revealed The hearing comes as other lawsuits against Trump s executive order are pending Earlier this month Democratic attorneys general required the court to reject Trump s executive order The following day Washington and Oregon two states that hold all-mail elections followed up with their own lawsuit against the order Associated Press writer Christina A Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this review The Associated Press receives assistance from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy See more about the AP s democracy initiative here The AP is solely responsible for all content