DETROIT -- We applaud Attorney General Nessel for joining a coalition of 19 attorneys general in suing the Trump administration over its unconstitutional and antidemocratic Elections Executive Order that attempts to undermine voting rights by ordering state governments to impose overly burdensome proof of citizenship requirements when registering to vote.
The Constitution is clear that the power to regulate our elections rests with the states and Congress – not the president.
This EO is part of a coordinated attempt to disenfranchise voters. The same tactics have been used by some federal and local lawmakers seeking to pass the SAVE Act and HJR-B, harmful legislation requiring proof of citizenship, despite laws that are already on the books that clearly state only U.S. citizens can register and vote.
Trump’s EO and proposed federal and state legislation are not only unnecessary but would make it harder for many Michiganders to cast a ballot, especially historically disenfranchised voters, including people of color, voters with disabilities, and people with low-income. Policies like these do nothing to enhance election security but instead create barriers that prevent eligible voters from participating in our democracy.
Michiganders support expanding voting rights and ensuring our elections are secure. That is why they overwhelmingly voted to enshrine voting rights in our state constitution – twice – in 2018 and 2022.
Undermining voting rights is another attempted power grab by a tyrannical administration that seeks to sow chaos, divide us, and trample our rights.
Together, we must fight back as @MIAttyGen is doing in her strong retribution of the Trump administration’s attempts to silence our voices by diminishing access to the ballot box.