Washington challenges Trump election executive order

Washington state has initiated a lawsuit against the Trump administration, contesting an executive order that aims to impose federal regulations on state elections. The lawsuit, which Washington filed jointly with Oregon in the Western District of Washington, is part of a series of legal challenges to the March 25 executive order. Attorney General Nick Brown articulated that neither the Constitution nor federal law empowers the president to dictate how states conduct their elections, emphasizing that it is the states’ jurisdiction to manage voter registration and ballot counting. Trump's order stipulates that citizens must provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote and requires that mail-in ballots be received by Election Day to be counted. This has raised concerns among state officials, including Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, who argue that such measures undermine decades of progress in securing fair elections.

Hobbs noted that Washington's mail-in voting system already has safeguards to prevent fraud, countering Trump’s claims of widespread election fraud. The lawsuit reflects a broader national debate about election integrity and the balance of power between state and federal authorities. As legal challenges mount, the implications for future elections and voter rights remain significant.