The coalition argues that the order, titled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections," violates the Constitution and federal law by attempting to "seize control of elections from the states and Congress," the attorney general's office said. The suit asks the court to declare the order unconstitutional and bar federal agencies from enforcing it.
"Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and no president has the power to rewrite the rules on his own," James said. She called the order "yet another attempt to disenfranchise voters and sow distrust in our electoral system as we head into the next election cycle."
According to the press release, the order directs federal agencies to create and maintain master federal voter rolls by state and pressures states to rely on those rolls under threat of investigation, prosecution, or withholding of federal funds. It also requires USPS to refuse to deliver mail ballots from voters not included on a federal voter roll and requires states to preserve election records for longer periods at their own expense.
The coalition contends that mail-in voting is "a secure, reliable method used by voters of all parties and in all states — including the president himself." The attorneys general argue that the order would force states to overhaul election operations within weeks of primary elections and months before mail-in voting begins for the 2026 general election.
The press release said the order also threatens state and local election officials with investigation or prosecution for following state law. James's office said such exposure could create "a chilling effect that could undermine the administration of free and fair elections."
The attorneys general noted that the administration has previously sought similar changes. James and 18 other attorneys general "already secured a court order blocking a prior unlawful executive order on elections last year," the press release said, adding that "courts have repeatedly affirmed that the president cannot bypass Congress or the Constitution to rewrite the rules governing federal elections."
Joining James are the attorneys general of California, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia, along with the governor of Pennsylvania.