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Vermont government, advocates push back – but can they force Trump to let United States Post Office mail the ballots?
By Guy Page
A new executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at tightening federal election procedures is drawing sharp criticism from voting rights advocates and state officials, who warn it could disrupt mail-in voting and shift control of elections away from the states.
The March 31 order, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” directs federal agencies to compile state-specific lists of verified U.S. citizens and requires the United States Postal Service to deliver absentee and mail-in ballots only to voters included on those lists.
Under the plan, the Postal Service would also be required to implement new tracking systems for ballots and ensure they are sent only to individuals enrolled on a government-managed participation list. The administration says the changes are intended to prevent non-citizens from voting and to strengthen confidence in election integrity.
The executive order further instructs federal officials to investigate and potentially prosecute election workers or entities that distribute ballots to ineligible voters, and it authorizes withholding federal funds from states that do not comply.
The order was executed after Congress failed to approve the SAVE Act, which among other provisions would have eliminated universal mailed ballots. No other nation allows governments to mail ballots to all voters, as do several U.S. states, including Vermont.
Supporters of the order argue that federal agencies, including the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, can help verify voter eligibility using existing databases.
However, critics say the proposal could effectively limit access to mail-in voting and create confusion ahead of upcoming elections.
In Vermont, Attorney General Charity Clark has joined a multistate lawsuit challenging the order, calling it unconstitutional.
“The Constitution makes clear that states have the power to run their own elections, and it does not authorize the President to interfere in state election administration,” Clark said in a statement. She warned the order could force states to overhaul their voting systems on short notice, risking “confusion, chaos, and distrust” while potentially disenfranchising eligible voters.
The League of Women Voters of Vermont also condemned the move, framing it as a threat to voter access.
“The League of Women Voters has always and will always stand unapologetically on the side of voters, particularly those who have been historically disenfranchised,” the organization said in a statement. “The administration’s latest executive order is a direct attack not only on voters, but on how elections are run in this country.”
The group, which typically leans Democrat on policy issues, added that the Constitution assigns election administration to the states, not the executive branch, and warned the order “expands the president’s power while narrowing voting to a select few.”
Legal experts and state officials involved in the lawsuit argue that requiring ballots to be sent only to federally approved lists could interfere with existing state voter registration systems and vote-by-mail programs, which vary widely across the country.
The coalition of states is asking a federal court to block implementation of the order before it can take effect, setting up what is likely to be a significant legal battle over the balance of power between federal and state governments in administering elections.
It is unclear how, or if, the Vermont Secretary of State’s Office would distribute ballots if Trump prohibits the Post Office from distributing them.
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Categories: Elections
sounds fine to me more than fine, in fact
The Secretary of State doesn’t have to worry about mailing out any ballots because we don’t support that! COVID IS OVER! Town Clerks can mail out Ballots to ELIGIBLE VOTERS! Just like they always did before COVID! I totally agree with you!
A beautiful thing! Thank you President Trump!
“Short Notice” will always be an excuse, given the 2-year election schedule.
The cheaters always will have an excuse😉
Charity Clark said ” the order could force states to overhaul their voting systems on short notice.” It didn’t take long for the state to “overhaul” our system when they decided to mail a ballot to every person on the rolls. That was a lot more complex change than it would be to just stop mailing them.
Yahoo!!!!! If there were no universal mailed ballots then only the people that are US citizens could and would be able to vote. Right now they are only inviting cheating by mailing out ballots to everyone ahead of time. The town clerks will have to purge the voter rolls of everyone who is not an American citizen, or has either died or has moved away-it’s a lot to ask but it is after all their job!!!!
The voter will have to prove citizenship with a birth certificate. I’m not sure driver’s license will due because I’m not 100% certain a vt license shows you are an American citizen or not???? So bring your birth certificate. Come in person to vote. See your neighbors!!!! It’s great fun!!! Make a day of it. Go out to eat afterwards because this is truly “Democracy in action.”
I don’t see why a person that has been voting in the same town for over 30yrs should have to show a birth certificate but if that’s what it would take to keep the VTSoS from mailing out ballots to everyone who is registered to vote, it would be worth it.
Yes, you do have to answer the question of whether you are a US Citizen on the drivers license application (or renewal). But, not everyone is truthful, and that’s the problem. However, one’s drivers license does not say you are a US Citizen. So, why not?
This is exactly what every state must comply with in my opinion. Shame on VT and shame on the The League of Women Voters. This is not about suppression…. This is not about taking away rights of citizens. Pretty amazing how people can find the where with all to get a passport- a driver’s license, if a lost birth certificate or SS card replacement. For anyone to say it’s not possible and this is limiting or discriminating- that’s an insult to women, and anyone who can put their feet on the floor. And if you can’t, doesn’t mean one can’t provide proof of citizenship. So anyone who calls foul is just wanting (seemingly) to have or give the opportunity to commit fraud. What a disgrace to oppose securing our votes. It’s called TRANSPARENCY !
That would be a great thing,ifhe can do it ?
Which one of my 6 birth certificates should I use?
The one with your picture on it. 🙂
That’s funny. Thanks, Greg.
No, it should be the one with your foot prints on it. Please be sure to have on clean socks when getting your foot print matched up!! ;o)
For the most part the picture of me from 72 years ago hasn’t really changed. I’m still bald, toothless and chubby. My footprint is probably the same except for the bunions and hammer toes. Just kidding, except for the baldness.
Unfortunately, I don’t see anything in the new executive order that would prevent universal mailed ballots. The SOS would simply need to filter it’s list through the federal citizenship verification list before handing it off to the printer. It still might help, but it would not prevent a USPS or contractor facility from fixing your ballot. Did you know the USPS clerks union endorsed Harris in the 2024 election?
This is great news and long overdue. Thank you, President Trump! He is the absolute greatest President of our life time!
To those of you who have never looked at the Constitution past the 2nd Amendment, this Executive Order is clearly in violation of the Constitution.
“Article I, Section 4, Clause 1:
The Times, Places and Manner of holding Elections for Senators and Representatives, shall be prescribed in each State by the Legislature thereof; but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations, except as to the Places of chusing Senators.”
Even the New Hampshire Secretary of State came out today and said that they would not be adhering to this unconstitutional order.
https://www.nhpr.org/nh-news/2026-04-01/nh-secretary-of-state-scanlan-trump-administration-elections-voter-data-absentee-voting
This is why people marched last weekend, because we don’t want a king, especially a Mad King who threatens to wipe civilizations off the map. After the last few days, you might want to brush up on another Amendment, the 25th.
Here’s another part of our Constitution – Oaths and Allegiance of Office:
‘You do solemnly swear that you will be true and faithful to the State of Vermont and that you will not, directly or indirectly, do any act or thing injurious to the Constitution or Government thereof.’
“…but the Congress may at any time by Law make or alter such Regulations…” Congress has already done that several times. There is no debate that a person must be a legal US Citizen in order to vote for federal representatives. Congress has also enacted legislation to assist the States with complying with federal laws (Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002). The executive order simply gives direction to follow the existing laws. NH should immediately loose any contest of the well vetted standings. Unless of course, lawlessness will prevail.
Adam, not sure you have a point other than you want to disagree with me. Yes, Congress can make laws and alter regulations, but an Executive Order doesn’t come from Congress, therefore it is unconstitutional. New Hampshire will dogwalk the Trump administration in court over this ruling kind of like how they are getting laughed out of the Supreme Court over birthright citizenship.
Again, if you are MAGA, you don’t not support the Constitution, you just get in line. (for $5.00 gas lol)
Chris, The executive branch is the branch of government that enforces laws, is it not? Trump’s Executive Order does not create any new laws. It is simply directing enforcement agencies to enforce existing laws under the Constitution. The only new thing about it is that he is enabling cooperation between the various federal record keeping agencies in order to comply with HAVA and other constitutional laws. Again, the power to manage that federal executive bureaucracy lies with the POTUS. I do not trust the government any further than I can throw them, and to keep them in line, they must follow the laws.
I thought people marched last week because they were paid to do so.🙂
So Chris you are saying that Regulations that carry the force of ultimately jail time from Executive Agencies like EPA, IRS, DOT, DOE, Ed Dept, etc. are Unconstitutional and do not need to be followed because they are not Congress
Oh, you mean like when the Pennsylvania Supreme Court changed PAs election laws during the 2020 election violating “Article I, Section 4, Clause 1. I don’t remember you complaining then. Democ-RATS are the biggest violators of the Constitution.
All for this
If the Vermont’s AG Clark, The League of Women Voters of Vermont, SOS, Legal experts and state officials, VT Congress’s 3 Mouseateers, illegals, etc don’t like the mail-in ballots being outlawed THEN YOU KNOW Trump is on the right track.
Make it happen. End mail-in ballots!
It’s so cute when someone is called MAGA. This phrase, Make America Great Again, was first coined by Roosevelt during one of his fireside chats explaining his New Deal. Oh, btw, Roosevelt was a Democrat. Just some food for thought. The end.
I agree Dan. 10 years of being criticized because I voted for President Trump is long enough. I still don’t dare to bring it up in public.
MAGA was also a campaign slogan by the Clinton/Gore presidential run…I dont recall democrats or republicans having a snipfit over that.
I see a whole lot of arguing about mail in ballots. Explain why you do not want to show up in person? As far as this goes, you can still request a ballot, to be mailed out by the clerk in the town you are registered with. If you are unable to get to the polls on election day, ( illness, or otherwise) 2 members of your towns board of civil authority will come to your home, so you can vote, and your ballot is returned to the polls. I have not looked into the added cost the batch mailings have cost this state in postage and clerk time, but it must be rediculous. If you are a LEGAL registered voter, what is the problem?
MAIL IN BALLOTS = FRAUD
Trump does not have legal authority over elections and mail-in voting. The constitution permits states to set their own rules for elections. Only Congress can enact changes to US policy on federal elections. Enjoy the pandering.