RENO, Nev. (KOLO) - Nevada’s Attorney General Aaron Ford and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar have filed a new lawsuit against the Trump administration regarding its broad executive order on elections.
The directive was signed on March 25. and revises election processes in the U.S., including mandating documentary proof of citizenship To sign up for voting in federal elections and insisting that all ballots must be received by Election Day.
Ford and Aguilar termed the directive as an illegal overstep regarding elections, labeling it unconstitutional, undemocratic, and un-American.
They submitted the lawsuit along with California Attorney General Rob Banta and 19 additional state Attorneys General.
"The Trump administration attempted to unlawfully take control from the states and Congress by meddling in elections," stated Attorney General Ford. . The actions taken violate Nevada’s autonomy and represent an unparalleled seizure of authority at the federal level; such conduct I cannot accept. The elections within our state are characterized by their freedom, fairness, and security, with Secretary Aguilar playing a crucial role in maintaining these standards. Therefore, I am among the lead plaintiffs in this legal challenge—to safeguard our sovereignty and defend our democratic process.
The executive order issued by the Trump administration regarding elections is an illegal move aimed at seizing authority from both the states and Congress," stated Aguilar. "The U.S. Constitution explicitly outlines that states hold principal accountability for overseeing elections. This plays a crucial role within our nation's framework of checks and balances, which forms a significant aspect of my responsibilities as Secretary of State. Repeatedly, we've demonstrated that Nevada conducts among the safest, most open, and easily accessible electoral processes in the entire country.
"There is no legal justification for these efforts to compel Nevada to alter its policies. Furthermore, the directive is supported by threats to withdraw funds designated for securing and maintaining fair elections; this certainly does not align with the vision of the nation's founding fathers regarding our democratic system. As the top election official in Nevada, I hold an oath-bound responsibility to safeguard and enforce the voting rights of all qualified voters. I am honored to stand firm against this unauthorized expansion of federal authority together with Attorney General Ford and other Secretaries of State," he added.
Ford states that Trump does not have the legal power to alter the state election rules through an executive order.
In the lawsuit, the attorneys general claim that Trump’s directive will result in damage to the United States.
The challenged provisions include:
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Mandating Proof of Citizenship: Compels the Election Assistance Commission to mandate documentary evidence of citizenship for registrations in federal elections, even though Congress has not established this requirement.
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State Agency Control: Directs state-appointed federal voterregistration agencies to confirm citizenship prior to supplying registration forms, improperly requisitioning the utilization of state assets.
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Restricting Mail-In Ballots: Mandates that states refuse absentee and mail-in ballots arriving after Election Day, superseding state regulations that permit the tallying of votes submitted by Election Day.
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Aiming at Military & Overseas Voters: Requires evidence of citizenship and qualification from military and overseas voters, even though federal legislation does not mandate providing this documentation.
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Threatening Federal Funding: Aims to deny federal funding to states that do not comply, thereby infringing upon constitutional tenets of state autonomy and the division of governmental authorities.