Lawsuit Filed Against President's Mail-In Voting Executive Order

Civil rights groups challenge order's legality and potential to undermine democratic elections.

Apr. 5, 2026 at 10:49pm

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A coalition of civil rights organizations, including the Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, the NAACP, Common Cause, and Black Voters Matter Fund, have filed a lawsuit against President Trump challenging his recent executive order on mail-in voting. The groups argue the order is unlawful, unconstitutional, and an overreach of executive power that could erect obstacles to voting and intimidate voters, particularly Black voters.

Why it matters

The executive order aims to create lists of eligible voters and compel the U.S. Postal Service to only send mail-in ballots to 'verified' voters, which the plaintiffs say would upend state voting laws and procedures, undermine free and fair elections, and threaten to shut out a significant number of Black voters from the political process.

The details

The lawsuit was filed on April 5, 2026, in response to President Trump's executive order signed on March 31. The order would create lists of eligible voters in each state and require the Postal Service to only send mail-in ballots to those 'verified' voters. The civil rights groups argue this is an unlawful and unconstitutional overreach that would sow chaos, discourage voter participation, and undermine democratic elections.

  • President Trump signed the executive order on March 31, 2026.
  • The lawsuit was filed on April 5, 2026.

The players

Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

A national civil rights organization that filed the lawsuit against the president's executive order.

NAACP

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, a prominent civil rights organization that joined the lawsuit.

Common Cause

A nonpartisan government watchdog group that also joined the lawsuit against the executive order.

Black Voters Matter Fund

A grassroots organization focused on increasing Black voter participation that is part of the lawsuit.

President Trump

The president who signed the executive order on mail-in voting that is being challenged in the lawsuit.

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What they’re saying

“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.”

— Shaylyn Cochran, Deputy Executive Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

“The executive order sets the stage for an absolute train wreck in future elections. This order represents one more effort to undermine free and democratic elections.”

— Rob Weiner, Voting Rights Project Director, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

“This executive order sows chaos and discourages 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.”

— Derrick Johnson, NAACP 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 1 million members firmly reject any president setting election law, especially as a last ditch effort to avoid accountability.”

— Virginia Kase Solomón, Common Cause President and CEO

“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.”

— Cliff Albright, Co-Founder, Black Voters Matter

What’s next

The lawsuit will be heard in federal court, where the judge will decide whether to block the president's executive order on mail-in voting.

The takeaway

This lawsuit represents a critical effort by civil rights organizations to protect voting rights and the integrity of democratic elections in the face of the president's attempts to undermine mail-in voting and restrict voter access.