Attorney General Clark and Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas Praise Court’s Decision to Block President Trump’s Unlawful Elections Order

Attorney General Charity Clark and Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas today issued statements in response to a federal court granting the states' motion for preliminary injunction, blocking unlawful provisions in President Trump's unprecedented Elections Executive Order as the lawsuit proceeds.

Today's victory is the result of a lawsuit filed in April by Attorney General Clark and a coalition of 19 other attorneys general. Through their lawsuit and subsequent motion for preliminary injunction, the coalition argued that the Elections Executive Order is an unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American attempt to impose sweeping voting restrictions across the country.

"Our right to vote is sacred and fundamental to American democracy," said Attorney General Clark. "I will keep fighting any unconstitutional attempt to disenfranchise voters. In Vermont, our tradition of exercising our democratic right to vote is strong and, on my watch, I intend for it to stay that way."

"Vermont's statewide officials are strongly united in our efforts to protect the basic tenets of Federalism - the autonomy of states' rights and citizen access to the ballot box. Both have been under attack from this administration," said Secretary of State Copeland Hanzas. "Here in Vermont, our election system is seen as a model nationwide for its security, accessibility, and participation levels. I'm grateful that the court has blocked these unlawful provisions, and Attorney General Clark and I will continue to fight for every Vermonters' fair access to the ballot box."

A copy of the order is available here.

CONTACT: Amelia Vath, Outreach and Communications Coordinator, 802-828-3171