A group of Republican state attorneys general has taken legal action against the Biden administration, filing a lawsuit challenging a federal initiative aimed at enhancing voter registration access. The lawsuit centers on an executive order issued by President Joe Biden in March 2021, instructing federal agencies to develop strategies to promote voter registration and engagement through various public touchpoints.
The executive order was issued in response to voter suppression legislation being advanced by GOP-led state legislatures following the 2020 election. The nine Republican attorneys general behind the lawsuit contend that President Biden overstepped his authority with the directive, alleging that it violates the US Constitution and encroaches on the voter registration systems established by individual states.
Furthermore, the states argue that the executive order was politically motivated to unfairly bolster Democratic voter turnout. They claim that the order has resulted in financial losses, procedural setbacks, and infringements on states' sovereignty by impeding their ability to regulate voter registration.
The lawsuit highlights specific federal agencies that have implemented the directive, such as the Treasury Department, which planned to incorporate voter registration information into its outreach campaigns for recipients of federal benefits like Social Security and Veterans Affairs.
The states involved in the legal challenge include Montana, Kansas, Iowa, South Dakota, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, and South Carolina. The case has been assigned to US District Judge Daniel D. Crabtree, who was appointed by former President Barack Obama.
