By: Ashmar Mandou

A federal judge allowed President Donald Trump to move forward with his effort to utilize federal control over mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections, at least temporarily. The executive order directs the U.S. Postal Service to track mail-in ballots and reject those submitted by people not on a federal list of eligible voters. Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision, Illinois elected officials are sounding off, calling it an attack on voter’s rights.

“The Supreme Court’s decision allowing Donald Trump and the U.S. Postal Service to move forward with this unprecedented attempt to interfere in our elections is deeply troubling. We are weeks away from voting in the midterms and the President is trying to put fear in Americans about the security of our elections, rewrite the rules, and put the federal government between voters and their ballots. Illinois will continue to administer free and fair elections in our state while fighting every attack on voter’s rights.” –Mayor Brandon Johnson

“In Illinois, we are focused on maximizing voter participation – not voter suppression. That is why we permit all eligible Illinois voters to cast mail-in ballots, and to cast ballots through Election Day. The Supreme Court confirmed that laws like Illinois’ are fully consistent with federal law, and that Illinois voters can continue to cast their ballots through Election Day this fall and going forward. The right to vote is at the very core of our nation’s democracy, and today’s decision is a win that protects access to the ballot box for millions of Americans.” –Attorney General Kwame Raoul

“By siding with Donald Trump and allowing his administration to restrict voting access while the legal challenge continues, the conservative bloc on the Supreme Court has once again put partisan power ahead of a fundamental principle of our democracy: every American must have a meaningful opportunity to cast their vote and have their voice heard. For many, voting by mail is the safest way to cast a ballot and ensures parents of young children, our elderly neighbors, those with disabilities, and hard-working families can participate in our elections while balancing the demands of everyday life.” –Governor JB Pritzker