Raleith -- April 5, 2026: North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson has joined a multi-state lawsuit challenging President Donald Trump’s recent executive order, "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections" (Executive Order 14399). Filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, the lawsuit alleges the order is an unconstitutional attempt to seize control of elections—a power the U.S. Constitution explicitly reserves for the states.
The Core of the Dispute
The executive order, signed on March 31, 2026, introduces two major mandates that the lawsuit seeks to strike down:
Federal "Shadow" Lists: It directs the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to compile a national list of "verified" eligible voters.
Postal Restrictions: Most controversially, it orders the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to refuse delivery of any mail-in or absentee ballot unless the voter appears on a federally pre-cleared "Mail-in and Absentee Participation List."
Impact on Military Servicemembers
Attorney General Jackson, who is himself a Major in the Army National Guard, highlighted the specific danger this poses to North Carolina’s massive military population.
The 60-Day Rule: The order requires the federal list to be finalized 60 days before an election.
The Risk: Jackson noted that with over 1,000 troops from Fort Liberty (formerly Fort Bragg) currently deploying to the Middle East, many may need to request ballots on short notice. If they are not on the pre-finalized federal list, the USPS would be legally barred from delivering their ballots, effectively "throwing them in the trash."
The Legal Argument
The coalition of 23 attorneys general argues that the President is acting ultra vires (beyond his legal power).
State Authority: Under Article I, Section 4 of the Constitution, states have the primary authority to manage the "Times, Places, and Manner" of holding elections.
Coercion: The lawsuit alleges the administration is using threats of criminal prosecution and the withholding of federal funds to force state election officials to comply with the new federal lists.
Quick Facts for North Carolina Voters
Current State Law: North Carolina allows any registered voter to request an absentee ballot without a specific excuse up until the day before an election.
Voter Security: NC already requires identification (such as a driver’s license or the last four digits of a Social Security number) for registration and utilizes witness signatures for mail-in ballots.
Scale: In the 2024 election, nearly 500,000 North Carolinians used mail-in voting.