On April 3, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-led a coalition of 23 attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania in challenging Donald Trump’s unlawful executive order attempting to restrict voter eligibility and mail-in voting.  

After having his first elections-related Executive Order (EO) blocked by courts in 2025, Donald Trump issued EO No. 14399 on March 31, 2026, attempting to restrict voter eligibility and mail-in voting.  The latest EO directs federal agencies to create and maintain master federal voter rolls by state and pressures states and local election offices to rely on those voter rolls under threat of investigation, prosecution, or withholding of federal funds. It also requires the United States Postal Service (USPS), an independent federal agency, to refuse to deliver mail ballots from voters who are not included on a federal voter roll, directly interfering with states’ mail voting systems. Additionally, the order seeks to force states to preserve election records for longer periods than required under existing law at states’ expense, again backed by threats of enforcement action, criminal prosecution, or the withholding of federal funds.    

In its lawsuit, the coalition argues that the U.S. Constitution gives states the primary authority to administer elections. In contrast, the Constitution does not grant any authority to the executive branch to impose any changes to federal election procedures without an act of Congress. Establishing and maintaining standards for voter eligibility is a core state responsibility, which the suit asserts the EO seeks unconstitutionally to usurp. The states also contend that the order unlawfully interferes with mail-in voting by directing USPS to block ballot delivery based on federal criteria outside states’ control, despite the fact that mail-in voting is a secure voting method.

The administration of elections is highly complex and requires substantial planning and preparation. The attorneys general argue that the President’s executive order would require states to upend their existing election administration procedures for upcoming elections and conduct statewide voter education at a dangerously quick pace — potentially within weeks of primary elections and mere months before the beginning of mail voting for the 2026 general election. The coalition argues that such drastic and rapid changes will undoubtedly create confusion, chaos, and distrust in state election systems, all while threatening to disenfranchise eligible voters.   

The coalition is asking the court to declare the executive order unconstitutional and prevent federal agencies from enforcing its provisions.  

Once again, President Trump is trying to rewrite the rules of our elections. But he lacks the authority to do so — full stop. The U.S. Constitution clearly gives States the primary authority over elections and gives zero authority to the President. This latest executive order is just another unlawful attempt to restrict voting, fueled by his fear of losing the upcoming midterm elections and based on wholly unfounded allegations of voter fraud.Attorney General Rob Bonta

Though the President may wish he had unlimited power to restrict voting rights, the Constitution gives states – not the White House – the authority to oversee elections. Mail-in voting is secure, our election laws are strong, and there is absolutely no evidence of widespread voter fraud. I will not back down from ensuring that every eligible voter in Massachusetts can cast their ballot and have their vote counted.Attorney General Andrea Campbell

The President wants to control your vote. He wants to tell the Postal Service what ballots they can accept and when. But this is patently unconstitutional. Mail-in voting is safe and legal in Washington. We will do everything we can to defend it. And come November, despite the president’s lawless threats, we’ll once again use that power to protect our democracy.Attorney General Nick Brown