New York Attorney General Letitia James announced on Apr. 3 that she, along with a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania, has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the president’s recent executive order concerning federal elections. The group argues that the order would unlawfully restrict mail-in voting, threaten election officials with prosecution, and override state control of election systems.
The lawsuit highlights concerns about potential disruption to upcoming elections if the executive order is allowed to proceed. The coalition contends that sudden changes could lead to confusion among voters and officials, risking disenfranchisement and undermining trust in electoral processes.
According to James, “Free and fair elections are the cornerstone of our democracy, and no president has the power to rewrite the rules on his own.” She added, “This executive order is yet another attempt to disenfranchise voters and sow distrust in our electoral system as we head into the next election cycle. Our elections are and always have been free, fair, and secure, and we will not allow this administration to attack the very foundation of our nation.”
The challenged executive order directs federal agencies to create master voter rolls by state and pressures states into using these lists under threat of investigation or loss of federal funds. It also instructs the United States Postal Service not to deliver mail ballots from voters who are not listed on these new rolls. The coalition argues that these actions interfere with established state-run mail-in voting systems—a method used across party lines—and could force states into costly operational changes just before key primaries.
James leads an office responsible for promoting social justice through civil rights enforcement and consumer advocacy according to its official website. The New York Attorney General also works statewide through regional offices addressing local legal issues according to its official website, provides services such as consumer fraud investigations according to its official website, protects public safety, defends civil rights according to its official website, upholds consumer protections according to its official website, preserves environmental interests according to its official website, operates as a law enforcement agency for New York according to its official website, with Letitia James serving as head attorney general according to its official website.
The attorneys general from 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; District of Columbia; along with Pennsylvania’s governor joined this action. They ask for judicial intervention declaring the executive order unconstitutional while preventing federal agencies from enforcing it.
