Congressional Black Caucus Statement on Trump’s Unlawful Voter Suppression Executive Order

Today, Congressional Black Caucus Chair Yvette D. Clarke (NY-09) and members of the Congressional Black Caucus issued the following statement:

"Right now, Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress are deploying every tactic imaginable to suppress the power of the people in a desperate effort to maintain control in Washington. The executive order signed by President Trump is an unlawful and unconstitutional attempt to dictate who in this country is allowed to vote.

"This sweeping order would allow the Trump Administration to unilaterally determine voter eligibility, intimidate state election officials through politically motivated investigations, and jeopardize the privacy of millions of law-abiding Americans. It would also disenfranchise Black and other minority voters, women, young people, individuals with disabilities, and older Americans.

"The order directs federal agencies to compile lists of eligible voters in each state and instructs the U.S. Postal Service to distribute mail ballots only to so-called 'verified' voters, which raises serious concerns about access, fairness, and federal overreach.

"Donald Trump and Republicans know their policies have failed the American people. That is why they are working to weaken the Voting Rights Act and advance voter suppression legislation like the SAVE Act in a continued effort to cling to power.

"There is no scenario in which this unlawful, anti-democratic, and authoritarian executive order will not go unchallenged to the fullest extent of the law."