Nevada Officials Challenge Trump Order on Elections

Attorney General and Secretary of State announce lawsuit against executive order restricting mail-in voting.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 4:04pm

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured geometric shapes and waves of color representing the motion and energy of election processes, conceptually illustrating the legal battle over voting rights.Nevada's legal challenge to Trump's election order aims to protect the state's secure and accessible voting processes.Las Vegas Today

Nevada's Attorney General Aaron D. Ford and Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar have announced plans to challenge a recent executive order signed by former President Trump that seeks to create a list of eligible voters and restrict absentee ballots. The officials will hold a joint press conference on Friday morning to discuss the lawsuit, which is being led by a 21-state coalition including California, Massachusetts, and Washington.

Why it matters

This legal challenge is significant as it aims to protect Nevada's mail-in voting system, which 86% of the state's voters have utilized, especially those in rural areas. The officials maintain that Nevada runs 'some of the most safe, secure and accessible elections in the country' and view Trump's order as an illegal attempt to undermine the state's election processes.

The details

Trump's executive order would require the U.S. Postal Service to only send ballots to a list of eligible voters in each state, restrict absentee ballots, and threaten state and election officials with criminal penalties and loss of federal funding for noncompliance. Nevada is co-leading the 21-state coalition lawsuit to challenge the order in court, arguing that the Constitution gives states the authority to run their own elections.

  • The executive order was signed by Trump on Tuesday, April 1, 2026.
  • The joint press conference by Nevada's Attorney General and Secretary of State is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2026.

The players

Aaron D. Ford

The Attorney General of Nevada who is leading the legal challenge against Trump's executive order.

Cisco Aguilar

The Secretary of State of Nevada who is co-leading the legal challenge against Trump's executive order.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who signed the executive order that is being challenged by Nevada officials.

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What they’re saying

“The President's new Executive Order on elections is illegal. The Constitution makes it clear: states run elections. The President has spent years attempting to manufacture a crisis around mail voting when there is none. Any claims that there is widespread fraud in our elections are false and create chaos and confusion for voters in the middle of an election year.”

— Cisco Aguilar, Secretary of State of Nevada

What’s next

The joint press conference by Nevada's Attorney General and Secretary of State is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Friday, April 4, 2026, where they will provide more details on the lawsuit challenging Trump's executive order.

The takeaway

This legal battle over mail-in voting in Nevada highlights the ongoing political tensions around election integrity and the balance of power between federal and state governments in administering elections. The outcome of this case could have significant implications for voting access and election security across the country.