Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall has criticized 25 Democratic state attorneys general for challenging an executive order aimed at enhancing the security of mail-in ballots. Marshall asserted that Democrats are obstructing measures designed to prevent illegal voting and are primarily concerned with partisan advantage in upcoming elections.
President Donald Trump's executive order, issued in March, seeks to enable federal agencies to assist states in verifying the eligibility of mail-in voters and to implement U.S. Postal Service (USPS) practices for tracking ballots. Marshall, leading a group of 13 Republican attorneys general, supported the USPS's efforts to audit state voter rolls.
"The left, because they’re concerned about losing at the midterms, want to be able to obstruct this administration’s efforts to ensure the integrity of our elections," Marshall told Fox News Digital. He questioned the confidence of those objecting to these measures in their own election security, suggesting it could be a partisan effort to ensure Democratic victories and suppress conservative voices.
Democrats have argued that the order could lead to "disenfranchisement," "chaos," and "unconstitutional overreach." Their concerns center on the potential for the USPS to halt mail-in ballot deliveries if states do not share voter roll information with the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration for cross-checking. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, appointed by former President Barack Obama, previously issued a restraining order against the Trump administration, citing the overwhelming risk of disenfranchisement.
Marshall countered that the issue of voter fraud is not "unsubstantiated" and pointed to evidence in his own state. He described the order's provisions as a "common-sense, straightforward way for states to be able to ensure elections" and restore public confidence in their accuracy. He also referenced the bipartisan 2005 commission chaired by Jimmy Carter and James Baker, which identified mailed absentee ballots as susceptible to fraud.
The Alabama AG stated that the objective is not to impede states' election processes but to secure them. He believes these measures will help eliminate past issues, including those observed in Alabama. The restraining order issued by Judge Talwani is currently in effect for up to one week as she considers a longer-term preliminary injunction. The case is proceeding as the midterm mail-in ballot season begins.