Oregon attorney general, 22 other states sue over President Trump’s executive order to limit vote-by-mail

SALEM, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield joined a coalition of 22 other attorneys general and one governor on Friday to file a lawsuit against President Trump's March 31 executive order. The legal challenge seeks to block the order, which would give the federal government authority to determine which citizens receive mail-in ballots.

The lawsuit alleges that the order is unconstitutional and violates the separation of powers by shifting election control from states to the federal government. The attorneys general argue the mandate attempts to use the U.S. Postal Service to withhold ballots from voters who do not appear on a federally approved list.

Rayfield criticized the change in the role of the nation's mail carrier.

"The United States Postal Service has one job: to deliver the mail. President Trump is trying to give it a second one — deciding which Americans get a ballot," Rayfield said. "That is not the postal service's role, it is not the federal government's role and it is not constitutional. Trump has spent years weaponizing federal agencies to prop up his false story that fraud cost him the 2020 election. He votes by mail. Oregonians vote by mail. And Oregon will keep running its own elections."

The coalition claims the order would force states to overhaul election procedures at a rapid pace. Changes could be required within weeks of upcoming primary elections and months before mail voting begins for the 2026 general election. The lawsuit argues these rapid adjustments will create confusion and distrust while potentially disenfranchising eligible voters.

Oregon has operated a vote-by-mail system for decades and was a pioneer of the format. The system has historically received bipartisan support, including from three Republican secretaries of state who managed the program and championed its security. Although the president has challenged the security of mail-in voting, the lawsuit notes he recently voted by mail in a Florida local election.

This legal action follows a similar battle from one year ago when courts blocked a different executive order overhauling election rules. Rayfield also previously successfully sued to prevent the administration from obtaining unredacted Oregon voter rolls. The administration is now attempting to use the Postal Service to achieve similar goals.

Separate legal challenges have been filed by Democratic congressional leaders and organizations. Two coalitions of voter advocacy groups have also initiated lawsuits to block the administration's efforts to change election procedures. These groups argue the moves are an attempt to bypass Congress and the states.

Rayfield is joined in the lawsuit by the attorneys general of Arizona, Calif., Colo., Conn., Del., Ill., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.J., Nev., N.M., N.Y., N.C., R.I., Vt., Va., Wash. and Wisconsin The attorney general for the District of Columbia and the governor of Pennsylvania also joined the coalition.

The attorneys general stated that the mandated changes could take effect within weeks of upcoming primary elections. Mail voting for the 2026 general election is scheduled to begin in the coming months.

Governor Tina Kotek also issued a news release in support of the legal challenge:

Oregon Joins Legal Challenge to Trump Executive Order Targeting Vote-by-Mail

Governor supports Attorney General’s lawsuit to protect Oregonians’ right to vote

Salem, OR – Governor Tina Kotek fully supports a new legal challenge led by Oregon Attorney General Dan Rayfield and a coalition of states to block a recent executive order issued by President Donald Trump that targets vote-by-mail systems used across the country. The lawsuit argues the executive order is an unconstitutional attempt to interfere with state-run election systems and undermine access to voting.

“Today, Oregon is moving to block President Trump’s unconstitutional voter suppression effort,” Governor Kotek said. “His attack on the fundamental right of every American to vote has nothing to do with election integrity and everything to do with silencing people so he can ultimately influence election results.”

On Tuesday, President Trump signed an executive order that imposes new federal restrictions on mail-in voting and election administration, despite the longstanding authority of states to run their own elections as granted by the U.S. Constitution.

Oregon has been a national leader in vote-by-mail for more than 25 years. After voters approved the system in the late 1990s, Oregon became the first state in the nation to conduct all elections entirely by mail in 2000. Since then, Oregonians have consistently voted safely, securely, and conveniently through a system that election officials across the country often cite as a model for accessibility and participation.

The lawsuit argues that the executive order exceeds presidential authority and attempts to override state election laws without Congressional approval. States have long held primary authority over election administration under the U.S. Constitution, and Oregon officials say the federal government cannot unilaterally impose new rules designed to restrict lawful voting methods.