CARSON CITY, Nevada — Nevada Secretary of State Francisco Aguilar and Attorney General Aaron Ford announced today that the state is joining a coalition of 19 attorneys general in a lawsuit challenging what they describe as an unlawful attempt by the Trump administration to seize control of state-run elections. The legal action, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, targets a controversial executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 25, 2025, which imposes new restrictions on election administration nationwide.
The lawsuit, co-led by Nevada Attorney General Ford and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, accuses the Trump administration of violating the U.S. Constitution by encroaching on states’ rights to regulate their own elections—a power explicitly granted to states and Congress under the nation’s founding document. The coalition argues that the executive order represents an unprecedented federal power grab, threatening the integrity of American democracy.
“The Trump Administration’s executive order on elections is an unlawful attempt to grab power from both the states and Congress,” Secretary Aguilar said in a statement. “The United States Constitution is clear: states have primary responsibility for the administration of elections. This is a key part of America’s system of checks and balances, and one of my most important duties as Secretary of State.” Aguilar emphasized Nevada’s track record, adding, “We have proven time and time again that Nevada runs some of the most secure, transparent, and accessible elections in the country. There is no lawful basis for these attempts to force Nevada to change its policy.”
The executive order in question introduces a series of mandates that the coalition claims overstep presidential authority and undermine state sovereignty. Among the challenged provisions are requirements for documentary proof of citizenship for federal voter registration, restrictions on mail-in ballots, and demands for state agencies to verify citizenship before providing registration forms. The order also threatens to withhold federal funding for election security from states that fail to comply—a move Aguilar called “clearly not what the Founders intended for our democracy.”
Attorney General Ford echoed Aguilar’s concerns, vowing to defend Nevada’s autonomy. “The Trump administration tried to illegally seize power from the states and Congress by interfering in elections,” Ford said. “Its action infringes on Nevada’s sovereignty and is an unprecedented federal power grab; and I will not stand for it. Our state elections are free, fair, and safe, and Secretary Aguilar has done a phenomenal job in ensuring they remain so.”
The lawsuit details several specific provisions of the executive order that the coalition deems unconstitutional:
- Mandating Proof of Citizenship: The order forces the federal Election Assistance Commission to require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, despite no such requirement existing in federal law.
- State Agency Control: It mandates that state-designated voter registration agencies verify citizenship before distributing forms, effectively commandeering state resources.
- Restricting Mail-In Ballots: The order requires states to reject absentee and mail-in ballots received after Election Day, overriding state laws that allow counting ballots cast by that date.
- Targeting Military & Overseas Voters: It imposes proof of citizenship and eligibility requirements on military and overseas voters, contradicting existing federal protections.
- Threatening Federal Funding: The administration seeks to punish noncompliant states by withholding election security funds, a move the coalition says violates constitutional principles.
The coalition, which includes attorneys general from Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin, is asking the court to strike down the challenged provisions and declare them unconstitutional. The filing asserts that these measures will cause “imminent and irreparable harm” to states by disrupting established election processes and imposing unfunded mandates.
The Trump administration has yet to respond publicly to the lawsuit, but the executive order has already sparked fierce debate. Supporters argue it strengthens election integrity by standardizing voter verification, while critics—including the coalition—contend it tramples on states’ rights and risks disenfranchising eligible voters.
For Nevada, a state with a history of closely watched elections, the stakes are particularly high. Secretary Aguilar reaffirmed his commitment to protecting voters, stating, “I have a sworn duty as Nevada’s chief elections officer to uphold the rights of every eligible voter, and I am proud to fight back against this unlawful federal overreach alongside Attorney General Ford and other Secretaries of State.”