19 Democratic state attorneys general sue over Trump's election integrity executive order

Democratic attorneys general in 19 states filed a lawsuit on Thursday over President Donald Trump's executive order on election integrity.

Last week, Trump issued an executive order on election integrity that included enforcing a citizenship requirement for voters in federal elections. Trump also ordered the attorney general to prosecute election crimes, take action against states that accept absentee ballots for federal elections after Election Day, and ensure that foreign nationals do not donate to federal elections or that organizations that receive federal funds do not engage in lobbying.

The Democratic lawsuit argues against some of the executive order's aspects, including enforcing documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and ensuring that states accept absentee ballots for federal elections after Election Day.

“The President has no power to do any of this,” the lawsuit reads. “The Elections EO is unconstitutional, antidemocratic, and un-American.”

The lawsuit argues that forcing states to reject absentee ballots received after Election Day violates states' constitutional authority over their elections.

“We are a democracy – not a monarchy – and this executive order is an authoritarian power grab,” New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) said.

The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts by the Democratic attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin.

This lawsuit from the Democratic attorneys general comes after Elias Law Group filed a separate lawsuit on Monday on behalf of Democratic leaders in both the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate, as well as the four national Democratic committees.

“The Executive Order seeks to impose radical changes on how Americans register to vote, cast a ballot, and participate in our democracy—all of which threaten to disenfranchise lawful voters and none of which is legal,” according to the Democratic leadership's lawsuit.