Attorney General Aaron M. Frey announced his participation in a multistate lawsuit against former President Donald J. Trump and various Trump Administration officials. The legal action challenges Executive Order No. 14248, described in the coalition's filing as an unconstitutional effort to introduce extensive voting restrictions.
The complaint argues that the executive order tries to compel state election officials to enforce documentary proof of citizenship requirements for voter registration. It also aims to alter established state procedures for ballot counting. According to Attorney General Frey, the executive order is an effort by the former president to change election laws without constitutional authority, infringing on powers designated to states and Congress.
Frey stated, "The right to vote is a cornerstone of our free society and the President is acting without any authority by trying to dictate election law." He emphasized the potential difficulties that Mainers might face if these changes were implemented.
The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, with the attorneys general seeking to have the specific provisions of the executive order declared unconstitutional and void. They argue that the order threatens to cause immediate and irreparable harm to state election processes.
This lawsuit involves attorneys general from 19 states, including Arizona, California, Colorado, and others, and is led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford.