Sen. Angus King (I) has joined a group of Democratic senators in pushing back against President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order.
This order, issued in March, has also been the subject of several lawsuits alleging that it is a violation of both the Constitution and the law.
Under this executive order, the United States Postal Service (USPS) would be required to establish new standards for mail-in and absentee ballot handling, as well as provide each state with a Mail-In and Absentee Participation List.
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Social Security Administration (SSA) would be required to coordinate to compile and transmit what is described as a “State Citizenship List,” listing individuals confirmed to be U.S. citizens who are at least 18 years old and maintain residency within a given state.
The order also directed the Attorney General to prioritize investigations and prosecutions related to election fraud.
Much like the lawsuit challenging this order, of which Maine is a part, the senators argue in their letter that the president has no legal or constitutional authority to “to regulate elections or voter eligibility either, including via USPS.”
In his executive order, President Donald Trump cited the Help America Vote Act of 2002 and the National Voter Registration Act of 1993 as the legal basis for the new directives.
President Trump also pointed to Article IV, Section 4 of the Constitution which entrusts the federal government with the responsibility of guaranteeing a republican form of government to every state in the union.
“These directives clearly infringe on the states’ and Congress’ constitutional role to regulate the manner in which federal elections are held and would deny eligible voters their ability to cast a ballot,” the senators wrote.
“The prohibition on transmitting ballots from individuals not on the absentee voter list acts as a ban on vote-by-mail for any state unwilling to share its absentee voter lists with USPS or any voter who happens to be excluded from the list,” they argued.
“Under this executive order, it is the Postal Service who will have the final say about whether to transmit a voter’s absentee ballot to election officials—granting USPS the ability to disenfranchise American voters,” they said. “Were the Postal Service to issue such a regulation, it would be a flagrantly illegal and unconstitutional attempt to regulate federal elections and would disenfranchise voters.”
“For over 250 years, the Postal Service has bound our country together with a constitutionally recognized mail service, and for 250 years, the American people have democratically elected their leaders,” the senators concluded. “Any attempt to effectuate this order would violate the Constitution, break these bonds, and threaten the foundations of American democracy.”
Click Here to Read the Senators’ Full Letter
Also signing onto this letter alongside Sen. King are United States Senators Gary Peters (D-MI), Alex Padilla (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Angela Alsobrooks (D-MD), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Maria Cantwell (D-WA), Chris Coons (D-DE), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), John Fetterman (D-PA), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Martin Heinrich (D-NM), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Mark Kelly (D-AZ), Andy Kim (D-NJ), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), Ed Markey (D-MA), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Patty Murray (D-WA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), Brian Schatz (D-HI), Adam Schiff (D-CA), Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH), Elissa Slotkin (D-MI), 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).
Of course he would, he’s a rotten Democrat. He sits with them and votes with him. His self proclaimed “Independent” status is a grift to win the center.
“Joins” them? What a joke, he is a true blue Democrat.
President Trump would not need to issue an EO if Susan Collins would vote for the SAVE America Act. I will no longer vote for a Republican Senate candidate in Maine until I am required to show my ID by Federal Law passed by Congress. Enough of this RINO Collins and her weak stances.
Did anyone thing Anus would do any differently or that RINO Collins won’t jump on the band wagon.
AndyK, are ya going to vote for Janet, the Nazi? I understand your frustration. Wanted to start an ABC pac. (Anybody but Collins) then we get these choices. Damn it wrong again. Been holding my nose and voting for the RINO for years, and my nose is getting sore.
No matter what, the democRATS always stick together. That, unfortunately, is how they always win.
To Andy K. I personally met with Susan Collins and she does support the “Save America Act” and will vote for it.
However, Anus King said fraud or illegals voting is not significant…he lies about a lot of other things too…and votes as Schumer wants him to…