Mass. Judge Permanently Blocks Trump’s 2025 Election Overhaul
A Mass. judge issued a permanent injunction blocking Trump’s 2025 election executive order.
Why it matters: Legal teams must navigate a clear reaffirmation of state authority over elections, impacting compliance and litigation risk related to federal voting directives.
- On June 24, 2026, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper permanently enjoined Executive Order No. 14248.
- The order required proof of citizenship for voter registration and barred mail-in ballots received after Election Day.
- A coalition of 19 state attorneys general, including California AG Rob Bonta, challenged the order in court.
- The SAVE America Act, requiring citizenship proof for voting, passed the House but is stalled in the Senate.
On June 24, 2026, U.S. District Judge Denise Casper issued a permanent injunction blocking President Donald Trump's Executive Order No. 14248 from March 25, 2025. The order had required voters to prove citizenship at registration and prohibited counting mail-in ballots received after Election Day.
Judge Casper ruled that the Constitution does not grant the president authority to regulate elections, emphasizing that states and Congress hold that power. Her decision reaffirmed the constitutional divide between federal and state election oversight.
The legal challenge came from a coalition of 19 state attorneys general, including California AG Rob Bonta. They had secured a preliminary injunction in June 2025 before this permanent ruling. Bonta called the decision a significant check on unilateral federal attempts to impose voting restrictions.
Separately, the SAVE America Act, which would require citizenship proof for voting, passed the House but remains blocked in the Senate, highlighting ongoing legislative impasse over federal election rules.
This ruling signals to legal and compliance teams that states retain primary control over elections, limiting the reach of executive federal mandates. Corporate legal professionals should stay alert to shifting federalism dynamics and the evolving legal landscape around election regulations to manage compliance risks effectively.
By the numbers:
- 19 — states challenging Trump's executive order
- June 24, 2026 — date of permanent injunction by Judge Casper
- 2025 — year Executive Order No. 14248 was issued
Yes, but: While this injunction curtails federal executive power, the legislative path remains open with ongoing debates over the SAVE America Act, keeping election regulation unsettled.
What's next: Watch for potential appeals of the ruling and future federal legislation on election rules that may impact compliance obligations.