Judge Blocks Trump’s Vote-by-Mail Change in OR and WA

A Federal Judge on Friday, Blocked Trump’s (R) Administration from Enforcing most of Trump's Executive Order on Elections against Vote-by-Mail in Oregon and Washington, in the latest Blow to Trump’s efforts to Require Documentary Proof of Citizenship to Vote, and to Require that All Ballots be Received by Election Day.

U.S. District Judge John H. Chun in Seattle, found that those Requirements Exceeded His Authority, following similar Rulings in a Massachusetts Case brought by 19 States and in a Washington, DC, Case by Democratic and Civil Rights Groups.

“Today’s ruling is a huge victory for voters in Washington and Oregon, and for the rule of law,” Washington Attorney General Nick Brown (D) said. “The court enforced the long-standing constitutional rule that only States and Congress can regulate elections, not the Election Denier-in-Chief.”

The Executive Order, issued in March 2025, included New Requirements that People provide Documentary Proof of Citizenship when Registering to Vote, and a Demand that All Mail Ballots be Received by Election Day. It also put States’ Federal Funding at Risk, if Election Officials didn’t Comply.

Officials in Oregon and Washington, which accept Ballots, as long as they are Postmarked by Election Day, said that could Disenfranchise Thousands of Voters, when the Post Office will determine if your Vote will Count.

During the 2024 General Election, Officials in Washington Counted nearly 120,000 Ballots that were Received after Election Day but Postmarked by it. Oregon Officials received nearly 14,000 such ballots.

The judge found that Trump’s Efforts Violated the Separation of Powers. The Constitution Grants Congress and the States, the Authority to Regulate Federal Elections, He noted.

Oregon and Washington said they Sued separately from other States, because as Exclusively Vote-by-Mail States, they Faced particular Harms from the Executive Order.

Trump and other Republicans have Promoted the Idea that Large Numbers of People who were Not U.S. Citizens might be Voting. However, Voting by Non-Citizens is Rare and, when they are Caught, they Face Felony Charges and Deportation.

States that Require Proof-of-Citizenship to Register to Vote: Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, Ohio, and Wyoming.










NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker