Embedded Files
Victory! Court Blocks USCIS Rule Restricting Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies
Victory! Court Blocks USCIS Rule Restricting Voter Registration at Naturalization Ceremonies
August 7, 2026 WASHINGTON, DC — On August 3, the District Court of Maryland temporarily blocked a US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) rule that prevented nonpartisan civic engagement groups from registering new US citizens to vote at administrative naturalization ceremonies. The Court’s preliminary injunction prevents the new rule from going into effect while the case is litigated.
The rule — which was issued abruptly in August 2025 and without factual basis — silenced the voices of Americans, but has been temporarily blocked following a lawsuit filed by Campaign Legal Center on behalf of the League of Women Voters (LWV) and a number of state and local Leagues. Now, civic engagement groups can continue the important work of educating and registering new Americans at administrative naturalization ceremonies — a longstanding tradition that encourages participation in the political process.
“When people become American citizens, they should be welcomed into full participation in civic life, not met with new barriers,” said Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters. “For generations, the League has stood beside new citizens as they take the oath of citizenship and prepare to make their voices heard at the ballot box. Today’s ruling protects that fundamental democratic principle, and we will continue fighting to ensure every eligible voter can participate freely and fully in our democracy."
“Any attempt to limit the freedom to vote is an attempt to silence American voters. This victory protects naturalized citizens’ access to the ballot box and the constitutional rights of civic organizations that help new citizens exercise their democratic freedoms,” said Anna Baldwin, director of voting rights litigation at the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center. “We’ll continue to fight in court to make this victory permanent and protect naturalized citizens and the groups that help welcome them into our democracy.”
The plaintiffs sued the administration for violating the First Amendment rights of the national League of Women Voters and state and local Leagues to engage in political speech and associational activities. The suit also addresses the administration’s failure to obey the Administrative Procedure Act that requires federal agencies to follow clearly defined and transparent procedures when adopting new policies.
“Every new citizen in Saratoga County deserves not just a warm welcome, but the immediate chance to take part in our democracy by registering to vote the moment they take the oath of citizenship — a meaningful service the League of Women Voters of Saratoga County is honored to be able to provide once again.” - League of Women Voters of Saratoga County
Over the past few decades, the League has registered hundreds of thousands of new US citizens to vote after naturalization ceremonies nationwide. No organization has done more voter registration at naturalization ceremonies than the League of Women Voters. Indeed, in 2024, the League registered more than 15% of all new American citizens to vote at naturalization ceremonies.
As a result of USCIS’s rule change, however, state and local Leagues were forced to cancel hundreds of planned voter registration events, where League members and volunteers expected to register thousands of new voters. Since USCIS’s unlawful rule has been in place, state and local Leagues have been prohibited from attending and assisting new citizens in registering to vote for more than eight months. But with this Court victory, the League can now restart its important work with new citizens at administrative naturalization ceremonies.
To review the decision, click here.
July 14, 2026 NEW YORK — In a victory for voters, a federal judge dismissed the US Department of Justice’s (DOJ) lawsuit seeking New York state’s complete voter file, which contains voters’ driver’s license numbers, partial Social Security numbers and other private information. The League of Women Voters of New York State, represented by Campaign Legal Center and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, had intervened in the suit to protect voters in the Empire State.
The ruling marks the 12th time a federal district court has rejected a DOJ lawsuit seeking to gain access to voters’ confidential information. A 13th case was dismissed in West Virginia yesterday afternoon.
"Every eligible voter deserves to participate in our democracy without fear that their personal information will be misused or weaponized," said Marcia Johnson, chief of activation and justice for the League of Women Voters. "The law is clear: voter registration records are not an open door for fishing expeditions that intimidate voters or erode public trust in our elections. Attempts to bypass these longstanding legal protections are not about strengthening our elections. They are about making it harder for eligible Americans to participate. The League will continue fighting to ensure our democracy belongs to voters, not those seeking to intimidate or silence them."
"The people of New York should never have to choose between exercising their fundamental right to vote and protecting their personal information," said Erica Smitka, executive director for the League of Women Voters of New York State. "When voters fear their private information will be exposed or misused, it undermines confidence in our elections and discourages participation. The League of Women Voters of New York State will continue standing up for voters and pushing back against efforts that threaten the privacy, security, and freedom every eligible voter deserves."
“Once again, a federal court has said no to the Justice Department’s hunt for state voter rolls,” said Eileen O’Connor, former attorney in the Civil Rights Division of the Justice Department and Brennan Center for Justice senior counsel. “As this dismissal shows, the Justice Department can’t simply demand a state’s voter rolls without legal justification. The department should put an end to its campaign to obtain voters’ confidential information.”
“This dismissal is a victory for New York voters and for the rule of law. The Constitution is clear: The states and Congress have the power to set the rules around our elections, not the president or the executive branch — including the DOJ,” said Dan Lenz, senior legal counsel for strategic litigation for the Campaign Legal Center. “This ruling is now one of many, from federal courts across the country, rejecting the DOJ’s brazen attempts to overstep the bounds of its power. We are glad the court affirmed that the states — including New York — have the authority to administer their own elections, free from this type of federal overreach.”
Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter can meaningfully exercise their freedom to vote, and Campaign Legal Center, the League of Women Voters of New York State, and the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law are working together to protect that freedom.
Background: Beginning in May 2025, the Justice Department embarked on a sweeping effort to demand highly sensitive voter information — including dates of birth, partial Social Security numbers and driver’s license numbers — from almost every state. The department filed 31 lawsuits against 30 states and the District of Columbia that refused to turn over their voter rolls.
To review the decision, click here.
Responsible Data Center Development Act and Time Extender for Significant Disruptions Bills Passed!
Responsible Data Center Development Act and Time Extender for Significant Disruptions Bills Passed!
June 4, 2026 ALBANY, NY- This evening, the New York State Senate and Assembly passed both the Responsible Data Center Development Act (aka Data Center Moratorium Bill) A11560/S10642 and the Time Extender Bill S4602A/A5846A.
The Responsible Data Center Development Act pumps the brakes on the rapid expansion of large data centers in New York. It places a one-year moratorium on new permits for data centers drawing 20MW or more of power, while requiring the Department of Environmental Conservation to study and report on their environmental impacts within 18 months. Data centers would also be required to source energy from renewables. The goal is to give the state time to understand and manage the environmental, economic, and quality-of-life consequences of unchecked data center growth before issuing new approvals.
The Time Extender for Significant Election Disruptions bill creates a legal safety net for voters when emergencies disrupt polling. Under current law, there is no formal mechanism to restore voting time lost due to disruptions like bomb threats, fires, lockdowns, or accidents at polling sites, all of which have actually occurred in New York since 2022. This bill would establish a rapid-response plan requiring officials to document incidents, coordinate emergency responses, and critically, extend voting hours to make up for time lost. The aim is to ensure that voters are not disenfranchised by circumstances entirely outside their control.
May 29, 2026: NYS Budget Finally Passes- 58 Days After Deadline
May 29, 2026 This week, the Governor visited our office at The Blake Annex in Albany to sign one of the final key budget bills.
The $268.1B budget was passed by the Senate and Assembly in full this week and the bills are being signed by the Governor. The Senate announcement of passage is here and the Assembly's announcement is here. These announcements walk through some of the key funding that was passed.
Governor Hochul Will Sign Medical Aid in Dying Bill!
Governor Hochul Will Sign Medical Aid in Dying Bill!
(S138/A136)
December 17, 2026 Governor Hochul has committed to signing the Medical Aid in Dying Bill once chapter amendments are made in the new year. This is an incredible win for New Yorkers across the state who are facing terminal illness.
The Governor made a statement in the Albany Times Union this morning explaining how she came to her decision. You can read the statement here.
Governor Hochul Signs
Governor Hochul Signs
ERIC Bill!
ERIC Bill!
(S1356A/A3649B)
December 12, 2025 - Governor Hochul has just signed the ERIC bill (S1356A/A3649B)! This bill will strengthen voter protection, election integrity, and efficiency in New York State.
Read the LWVNY's letter here.
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on a petition seeking to add documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to the federal voter registration form. Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections creates unnecessary barriers for many eligible voters.
The Election Assistance Commission (EAC) published a Federal Register notice requesting comments on a petition seeking to add documentary proof of citizenship (DPOC) to the federal voter registration form. Requiring proof of citizenship to register to vote in federal elections creates unnecessary barriers for many eligible voters.
Read more and sign the petition here.
Tell Congress to protect the freedom to vote and support the passage of the JLVRAA.
Tell Congress to protect the freedom to vote and support the passage of the JLVRAA.
US Election Assistance Commission is NOT authorized to implement President Trumps Executive Order.
US Election Assistance Commission is NOT authorized to implement President Trumps Executive Order.
The League of Women Voters of the United States along with the Brennan Center for Justice, NAACP, ACLU, and Legal Defense Fund issued a letter to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission imporing them to not take any action in response to the President's Executive Order of March 25,2025 (the "Order"), titled "Preserving and Protecting the Integrity of American Elections." The order itself is unlawful as it relates to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (the "Commission") and it would, in any event, also be unlawful for the Commission to take several of the actions directed by the Order. To read the entire letter sent to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, click here.
The Save Act
The Save Act
The SAVE Act passed the House 220-206.
We are now waiting to find out when it will come to the Senate floor for a vote. Please contact your senators to express your concerns with this bill.
For more information about the SAVE ACT and President Trump's Executive Order, you can read the following analysis and explanation from The Brennan Center for Justice:
The Dangers of Congress's Latest Election Bill, Analysis by Brennan Center for Justice AND
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)
The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act (JLVRAA)
The JLVRAA ensures that every voter—regardless of where they live, what they look like, or what language they speak—has equal access to the ballot box and is protected from unfair laws and practices that make it harder for people to vote.
The JLVRAA restores and modernizes the original protections of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 (VRA) to combat many of the new and recent discriminatory voting requirements that states have enacted that disproportionately prevent people of color, women, the elderly, and youth from voting.
It allows federal courts to immediately halt questionable voting practices until a final ruling is made. This is crucial because when voting rights are at stake, prohibiting a discriminatory practice after the election has concluded is too late to truly protect voters' rights.
There is also a provision to safeguard election workers, defending them from threats and intimidation.
Please contact your Senators and Representatives to voice your opinion.
Page updated
Google Sites
Report abuse