Blumenthal Joins Democratic Senate Colleagues to Kill Trump's Executive Order Restricting Vote by Mail & Press USPS on Unconstitutional EO

[Hartford, CT] - Today, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) joined his Democratic Senate Colleagues to introduce the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act (Absentee MVP Act), legislation to protect the integrity of American elections, and Americans' right to vote by mail, by blocking President Trump's illegal and unconstitutional executive order attacking mail and absentee ballots.

The Absentee MVP Act would nullify Trump's unlawful March 31 executive order that aims to illegally re-write federal election rules by ordering the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to build state-by-state rosters of voting-age American citizens and granting USPS sweeping new authority to decide which of those voters may cast ballots by mail. Under the order, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) can reject and refuse delivery of lawful ballots unless states comply with newly established federal eligibility lists. Those who do not comply with these restrictions would face serious consequences: election officials, mail carriers, and others who send or deliver ballots to voters the administration considers ineligible could face criminal charges and states and local governments risk forfeiting federal funding.

The Absentee MVP Act would stop Trump's blatant elections power grab by prohibiting the USPS, DHS and any other executive agency from spending funds to implement the directives in the President's unconstitutional executive order.

"President Trump's Executive Order is yet another power grab to take control of our elections illegally," said Blumenthal. "By manipulating the U.S. Postal Service to restrict mail-in ballots, this administration is undermining the Constitutional framework that protects free and fair elections. I am proud to support this legislation to stop this illegal overreach and ensure every eligible voter can cast a ballot without interference."

"The Constitution is clear. Elections belong to Congress and the states, not the President. You do not protect them by building federal lists out of flawed data," said Roman Palomares, LULAC National President and Board Chairman.

"President Trump was transparent when he issued an executive order clearly intended to disenfranchise a large bloc of voters from the voting rolls. By making it more difficult for voters to cast ballots, he hopes to increase the odds for Republican election victories. His anti-voting obstacle is unfair, un-American, and must be repealed. Public Citizen strongly supports Senator Padilla's legislation to do precisely that," said Lisa Gilbert, Co-President, Public Citizen.

"Every American deserves to have their voice heard and their vote counted. The Constitution gives States and Congress - not the President - authority over federal elections," said Andrew Warren, Deputy Legal Director of Democracy Defenders Action. "We commend Senator Padilla for his leadership in introducing the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act, and we urge Congress to pass this important legislation to prevent the President from interfering in our elections."

"No president - Trump or any to come - should be able to change the rules of an election in order to keep power and disenfranchise eligible voters. This bill pushes back on the Trump Administration's illegal executive order that attempts to do just that. It is a strong, forward-looking step to protect the integrity of our elections and ensure voters decide elections, not politicians," said Cole Leiter, Executive Director, Americans Against Government Censorship.

"For generations, service members have relied on mail and absentee ballots to exercise the rights they serve to defend. This legislation protects that lifeline and makes clear that no administration should be able to undermine access to the ballot for political gain. Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter can participate without fear or interference," said Janessa Goldbeck, Marine Corps Veteran and CEO, Vet Voice Foundation.

"Vote by mail works so well it's how President Trump chose to vote this very year," said Common Cause's President & CEO Virginia Kase Solomón. "That's why President Trump's mail voting executive order is absurd. What this order is really designed to do is give him the power to handpick voters based on who supports his agenda in an effort to shield his party from accountability at the ballot box. Common Cause and our more than 1 million members urge Congress to pass Senator Padilla's Absentee MVP Act now so every voter can cast a ballot freely and fairly."

"NALC appreciates Sens. Peters, Padilla and Durbin's leadership in fighting to protect Americans' access to mail-in ballots," NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. "Voting by mail is safe, secure and makes it easier for tens of millions of Americans to participate in our democracy. As this executive order is considered in the courts, NALC supports this legislation that focuses on protecting Americans' right to vote by mail."

In addition to Blumenthal, the legislation is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Chris Murphy (D-CT), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Gary Peters (D-MI), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Michael Bennet (D-CO), Lisa Blunt Rochester (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-NV), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), John Hickenlooper (D-CO), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Angus King (I-ME), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Mark Warner (D-VA), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Peter Welch (D-VT), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), and Ron Wyden (D-OR).

Full text for the Absentee MVP Act is available here.

-30-

• Print
• Email
• Share
• Tweet