Arizona Leaders Condemn Trump's Order on Voter Lists and Mail-In Ballots

The executive order aims to create a nationwide list of eligible voters and restrict mail-in voting, but state officials say it's unconstitutional overreach.

Apr. 1, 2026 at 12:50am

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Arizona's top elected officials, including the Attorney General, Secretary of State, and Governor, have strongly criticized President Trump's latest executive order that seeks to create a federal database of eligible voters and limit mail-in balloting. They argue the order is an unconstitutional overreach that infringes on states' rights to administer their own elections.

Why it matters

The dispute over mail-in voting and voter lists has been a major political flashpoint, with Trump repeatedly making unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud. This order is the latest attempt by the administration to assert federal control over state election processes, which could have significant implications for voter access and confidence in the electoral system.

The details

Trump's executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration to compile a nationwide list of eligible voters, and would prohibit the U.S. Postal Service from sending mail-in ballots to anyone not on state-approved voter rolls. It also calls for ballots to be sent in secure, trackable envelopes. However, legal experts say the president likely lacks the authority to mandate how the Postal Service handles mail-in voting.

  • The executive order was signed on April 1, 2026.

The players

Kris Mayes

Arizona Attorney General, who said the order is unconstitutional and that her office will use every legal tool to defend Arizona's elections and voters.

Adrian Fontes

Arizona Secretary of State, who called the order a 'disgusting overreach' and said it would 'weaponize the sensitive personal information of voters.'

Katie Hobbs

Arizona Governor, who said the state doesn't need 'Washington politicians telling us how to run our elections.'

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What they’re saying

“President Trump can sign all the executive orders he wants. It won't change the United States Constitution. States run their elections, not the President of the United States, not the Department of Homeland Security. That is not a political opinion. It is bedrock constitutional law, and federal court after federal court has said exactly that in striking down this administration's previous attempts to seize control of American elections.”

— Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General

“This move is nothing more than a push to weaponize the sensitive personal information of voters in this country, an effort my office will continue to fight unrelentingly.”

— Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State

“We don't need Washington politicians telling us how to run our elections.”

— Katie Hobbs, Arizona Governor

What’s next

The dispute over the executive order is expected to end up in court, with Arizona officials vowing to use every legal tool to challenge the president's actions.

The takeaway

This order represents the latest clash between the Trump administration and state officials over control of election processes. While the president has repeatedly made unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud, state leaders argue that the federal government is overstepping its bounds and undermining the integrity of elections.