1. United States
2. Maine
3. Letter

I write to express urgent concerns regarding the executive order "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections," signed by President Trump on March 25, 2025. This order oversteps the constitutional boundaries of the executive branch, undermines your legislative authority, and employs coercive tactics that threaten our government’s balance of power.Under Article I, Section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, Congress holds the authority to regulate federal elections. Yet, this order unilaterally imposes policies—like requiring documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration—that belong to your domain. By bypassing the legislative process, the president circumvents your constitutional role, setting a dangerous precedent for executive overreach.Equally alarming is the enforcement mechanism: withholding federal funding from non-compliant states. This echoes the coercion ruled unconstitutional in National Federation of Independent Business v. Sebelius (2012), where the Supreme Court rejected threats to cut Medicaid funding to force state compliance. Here, the president uses a similar tactic—comply or lose resources—violating the Tenth Amendment and the Anti-Commandeering Doctrine (Printz v. United States, 1997), which protect states from being forced to enforce federal laws. This concentrates power in the executive, risking authoritarian governance.Practically, the order could disrupt state election systems and disenfranchise millions. A Brennan Center report estimates over 21 million Americans lack readily available proof of citizenship, raising concerns of voter suppression masked as election integrity.Congress must act swiftly to reassert its authority. I urge you to:Pass legislation reinforcing Congress’s role in election regulation.Challenge the order in court, if needed, to uphold separation of powers.Address election integrity through bipartisan measures that enhance security without undermining voter access or state autonomy.The integrity of our elections and our constitutional system are at stake. Please take immediate action to restore the balance of power and ensure election laws reflect democratic processes, not executive fiat.