ATL Standard

Congresswoman Nikema Williams, along with the Congressional Voting Rights Caucus Co-Chairs Representatives Bobby Scott, Terri Sewell, and Marc Veasey, criticized President Donald Trump's Executive Order titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." This criticism was articulated in a letter sent to Trump and signed by 55 other members of Congress, denouncing the order for what they see as an unconstitutional and illegal overreach.

The order instructs the Election Assistance Commission to enforce documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration and withhold federal funding from non-compliant states. It also seeks to override state laws on ballot counting deadlines. These actions, according to the caucus, undermine the Constitution’s assurance of equal ballot access.

The letter stated, "In no uncertain terms, we believe this order is unconstitutional, illegal, and impractical, could result in millions of voters being disenfranchised, and opens the door for false and misleading accusations of impropriety from your Administration."

The caucus expressed concern about the negative impact of the order on vulnerable groups such as Native Americans, women who have changed their names, and those lacking costly documentation, which could be seen as a violation of the 24th Amendment. The lawmakers criticized the imposition of what they see as unfunded mandates on local election bodies already struggling with limited resources. "Absent efforts by your Administration to support local governments in implementing your Executive Order, there are strong signs that the intent of your Executive Order is to cause chaos in election administration, not to increase election security," they wrote.

The Congressional Voting Rights Caucus is urging Trump to withdraw the Executive Order, arguing it promotes baseless voter fraud claims and endangers trust in the electoral process. The letter ended with a compelling reminder: "Free, fair, open and accessible elections are the bedrock of American democracy–implementing this order would do unfathomable harm to our constituents’ right to vote, the freedoms of our democracy, and the integrity of our elections."