Washington – Four of the nation’s leading civil and voting rights groups, Common Cause, Black Voters Matter, Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under the Law, and NAACP are suing to stop President Trump’s attempt to nationalize elections and prevent 48 million voters from casting a ballot with his latest executive order on mail in ballots. 

The lawsuit was filed April 3 in federal court in Washington, D.C. This is one of the first legal attempts to stop this executive order.  

“Mail in voting is so safe that even the president uses it when he votes,” said Virginia Kase Solomón, Common Cause President and CEO. “This is yet another attempt by President Trump to nationalize elections so he can pick and choose who gets to vote. Common Cause and our one million members firmly reject any president setting election law, especially as a last ditch effort to avoid being held accountable for his extremely unpopular agenda.” 

“This executive order targeting mail-in ballots is unlawful and usurps congressional authority in order to stop the midterm elections. This is another blatant attempt to undermine the people’s power,” said Cliff Albright, co-founder of Black Voters Matter. “We’re joining this lawsuit to stop this administration from silencing the voices of millions of Americans. Black Voters Matter will continue to fight for free, fair, and accessible elections.”  

Shaylyn Cochran, deputy executive director for the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, said, “The executive order is unlawful, unconstitutional, and a clear overreach of executive power. It reflects yet another dangerous attempt by this administration to erect obstacles to the ballot and to intimidate voters. If left to stand, the executive order would upend state laws and procedures on voting, tread on the Constitution, and threaten to shut out a significant number of Black voters from the political process. In filing today’s lawsuit, we are standing up for the rule of law and standing by the Lawyers’ Committee’s founding commitment to making the promises of our democracy real.” 

“Americans in every corner of our country, rural and urban, Black and white, rich and poor, healthy and infirm, civilian and servicemember, have participated in mail-in voting for decades without issue,” said Derrick Johnson, NAACP President and CEO. “This executive order sows chaos and discourage voter participation in the midterm elections. The NAACP will continue to turn to the courts to ensure that everyone can have a voice in our elections.” 

The organizations are part of the largest nonpartisan election protection organization in the United States, 866-OUR-VOTE, a national hotline and text platform to help voters work through any voting issues.  

Their participation in helping voters, and defending their members’ right to vote, gives NAACP and Common Cause standing in fighting this executive order. 

The lawsuit contends states and Congress set rules for elections, not presidents, and this executive order tying federal funding to election procedures is illegal.  

In March 2025, President Donald Trump released an election-related executive order that Common Cause opposed.  At least five different courts have struck down that executive order.  

Common Cause is also currently fighting state-level anti-voter bills through legal battles in Флорида и Indiana. Common Cause will continue to oppose any state-level legislation that threatens voting rights.  

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