North Carolina Joins Lawsuit Against Federal Mail-In Voting Restrictions
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North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging President Trump's executive order on mail-in voting, citing concerns over its constitutionality and potential impact on military voters.
North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined a coalition of over 20 states in filing a federal lawsuit against President Donald Trump's recent executive order on mail-in voting. The order mandates the creation of a nationwide list of verified eligible voters and restricts mail-in voting to individuals on this list, a move the states argue is unconstitutional and infringes upon state authority over elections.
"The president's latest attempt to interfere with the states' administration of their elections is as unprecedented as it is unconstitutional," the lawsuit states.
President Trump signed the order on March 31, asserting it would enhance election security. However, critics contend that it could disrupt upcoming elections and disenfranchise voters. The order directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile the voter list and instructs the U.S. Postal Service to withhold absentee ballots from those not on the approved list.
Attorney General Jackson emphasized the potential adverse effects on North Carolinians who vote by mail, including active-duty military personnel. North Carolina hosts a significant military population, with many service members deployed overseas.
"Under current law, we can request and receive absentee ballots up until the day before the election, which matters because deployments can happen fast," Jackson stated. "Under this executive order, our absentee ballots would run a very high risk of being rejected by the post office—essentially thrown in the trash—if we deploy within 60 days of the election. That is unacceptable."
The lawsuit seeks to block the implementation of the executive order, maintaining that the power to regulate elections resides with the states and Congress, not the president. This legal challenge is part of a broader response from Democratic-led states and organizations aiming to prevent federal overreach into state-managed election processes.
In response, White House spokeswoman Abigail Jackson described the order as a lawful effort to secure American elections.
"President Trump campaigned on securing our elections and the American people sent him back to the White House to get the job done," she said.
The outcome of this legal battle could have significant implications for mail-in voting procedures and the balance of power between federal and state authorities in election administration.