US judge blocks Trump’s voter ID order, halts citizenship proof rule

A US federal judge has blocked key parts of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to change how federal elections are run, including a proposed rule requiring voters to submit proof of citizenship for registration.

The judge reportedly said that regulating elections is the role of Congress and states, not the president. The blocked rule, if enforced, could have disrupted voter registration drives and harmed public interest. A clause assessing citizenship of welfare recipients was also halted.

However, some parts of the order were allowed to proceed, including stricter deadlines for mail-in ballots and access for Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency to review voter rolls and detect non-citizens—an unusual move that critics say could risk data misuse.

Trump’s order has sparked multiple lawsuits, with voting rights groups and Democrats calling it unconstitutional. The decision still is seen as a partial win for civil liberties, while other legal challenges remain pending.

Unlike India, the US does not have a central election authority—its elections are run independently by states and local bodies.

Read also:

Pakistan defence minister admits backing terrorism since three decades