Nessel Drops a BOMBSHELL Lawsuit Against Trump! What This Means for Your Vote in 2024!

LANSING – Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has joined forces with a coalition of 24 attorneys general and governors in a lawsuit against President Trump, challenging his recent Executive Order (EO) that seeks to interfere with states’ constitutional authority to manage elections. This lawsuit was filed today in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts.

Nessel emphasized the importance of mail-in voting, noting that more than 2.2 million Michiganders utilized this method during the 2024 election, many of whom likely voted for Trump. “Mail-in ballots are a safe and secure voting option,” she stated. “While he reserves the right for himself, President Trump is working unilaterally to make it harder to vote from home for single moms, seniors, and the military serving overseas. Michigan voters overwhelmingly voted to expand absentee voting in 2018, and I will protect that choice against an administration that is hellbent on taking it away.”

On March 31, Trump signed an Executive Order that seeks to establish a national list of eligible voters and directs the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to send mail-in ballots only to those on the list. The EO also threatens states with the loss of federal funding and criminal prosecution for elected officials who do not comply with its mandates. The coalition argues that this EO forces states to act against their own voter roll procedures and state laws.

The plaintiffs in this lawsuit assert that neither the Constitution nor any act of Congress grants the President the authority to enforce sweeping changes on state electoral systems. The EO introduces “shadow voter eligibility lists” maintained by the federal government and threatens to disenfranchise voters who do not appear on those lists. Moreover, the EO interferes with mail voting by instructing the USPS not to deliver voted ballots unless voters are on the pre-cleared list, which is beyond the control of state election administrators. It also seeks to extend the period for election officials to retain election records, contradicting both state and federal requirements. The coalition seeks to prevent the implementation and enforcement of these provisions.

In Michigan, state and federal law guarantees all eligible voters the right to cast and have their votes counted in elections. The states participating in this lawsuit allow registered voters to vote by mail if they meet state requirements. Mail-in voting is utilized by voters across the political spectrum, including Trump himself. Governor Gretchen Whitmer expressed her firm stance against the EO, stating, “The president’s recent Executive Order to restrict voting rights violates the U.S. Constitution and the role states play running elections.” She added, “I won’t let that happen. Today, we are standing up to protect our fundamental right to vote against dangerous federal overreach.”

Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson also criticized the EO, calling it illegal and designed to sow confusion in the electoral process. “If left unchecked, it will block millions of eligible American citizens from exercising their fundamental right to vote,” she warned. The administration of elections is a complex task that entails significant planning; the EO would force states to overhaul their existing election systems within a short timeframe, potentially leading to chaos and confusion.

In 2018, Michigan voters passed Proposal 3, amending the state constitution to permit all citizens to vote by mail or use secure ballot drop boxes in every election. This amendment also established a permanent mail ballot list for registered voters, allowing them to receive mail-in ballots automatically for every election.

In the 2024 presidential election, over 2.2 million Michigan residents voted by mail, which accounted for more than 25% of all active registered voters. This voting method is supported by stringent election security standards, including rigorous recordkeeping to prevent double or fraudulent voting, official signature verification, secure ballot drop box locations, and bipartisan teams overseeing ballot processing and tabulation.

The coalition's efforts aim not only to protect the voting rights of Michiganders but also to uphold the integrity of the electoral process at both state and federal levels. As this legal battle unfolds, its implications could resonate across the nation, affecting how elections are administered and how citizens exercise their fundamental right to vote.