A federal judge has blocked another Trump administration effort to strengthen election integrity, issuing a permanent injunction against an executive order that would have required proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote in federal elections. The ruling is the latest legal setback for the administration’s election reform agenda as debates over voter security continue nationwide.

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From Breitbart:

On Tuesday, Judge Denise Casper, appointed to the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts by Obama in 2010, ruled that Trump’s executive order demanding that the Election Assistance Commission include a proof-of-American-citizenship requirement in its national mail voter registration form is unconstitutional.

“The Court DECLARES that §§ 2(a), 3(d), 4(a), 7(a) and 7(b) of the Executive Order are unconstitutional and void because they are ultra vires and violate the separation of powers under the United States Constitution,” Casper writes:

The Court PERMANENTLY ENJOINS Defendants, except President Trump, from taking any action to implement or enforce § 2(a) of the Executive Order or otherwise taking any steps to require documentary proof of citizenship as part of the federal mail-in voter registration form provided for in 52 U.S.C. § 20508.

Judge Casper’s ruling also permanently blocks enforcement of other provisions of the executive order, including changes to the federal postcard voter registration form used by military and overseas voters. In her opinion, the judge concluded that the executive branch lacked the constitutional authority to impose the new requirements without congressional approval. She also wrote that the record before the court did not demonstrate evidence of widespread voter fraud sufficient to justify the executive order.

President Trump’s order was designed to strengthen election integrity by requiring documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and implementing additional election safeguards. Supporters of the order argued the reforms would help ensure that only eligible American citizens participate in federal elections, while opponents maintained that the executive branch cannot unilaterally alter procedures established by Congress.

The case follows a preliminary injunction issued by Judge Casper last year that temporarily halted implementation of the order while the litigation proceeded. Tuesday’s ruling makes that injunction permanent unless it is overturned on appeal. The administration is expected to continue defending its election integrity efforts as similar legal battles unfold across the country and Congress continues debating legislation addressing voter identification and proof-of-citizenship requirements.

Honest elections are an important component of faithful self-government. Let’s pray that America’s election laws will both protect every lawful vote and preserve public confidence in the electoral process. Regardless of how these legal disputes are resolved, let’s continue praying for wisdom in the courts and for truth, fairness, and integrity to prevail.

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(Excerpt from Breitbart. Photo Credit: Official White House Photo by Daniel Torok)