A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ruled in favor of civil rights organizations challenging a Trump administration executive order that demanded proof of citizenship for voter registration.

U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly, in her decision, emphasized that the power to regulate elections lies with states and Congress, as outlined in the Constitution. She stated, “The President does not possess the authority to mandate such changes.”

She further explained, “While the Constitutional allocation of power over federal elections between Congress and the States may appear complex, it is intentional. This structure results from the Framers’ thoughtfully negotiated compromises.”

The judge also permanently prohibited the U.S. Election Assistance Commission from including citizenship proof in the federal voter registration process.

Echoing the court’s decision, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) released a joint statement asserting, “The ruling reaffirms our stance that the President cannot alter election laws to introduce a restrictive show-your-papers requirement, potentially disenfranchising countless Americans.”

“This executive order was an attempted overreach of power, bypassing the Constitution’s clear allocation of authority to Congress and the states to set election rules,” the statement continued. “Our democracy is strongest when every eligible voter can register and vote free from expensive and unnecessary requirements.”

The lawsuit against the Trump administration was brought forth by the League of Women Voters Education Fund, League of Women Voters of the United States, League of Women Voters of Arizona, Hispanic Federation, NAACP, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Asian and Pacific Islander Vote.

White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson told The New York Times that the administration will appeal the ruling.

“President Trump has exercised his lawful authority to ensure only American citizens are casting ballots in American elections,” she said.

Trump signed the executive order in March. Though the order says state governments oversee American elections, “the United States has not adequately enforced Federal election requirements that, for example, prohibit States from counting ballots received after Election Day or prohibit non-citizens from registering to vote.”

Applicants registering to vote would have to provide proof of citizenship, such as a passport, Real ID or another state- or federal-issued identification that proves citizenship.

Critics said the order would result in large swaths of voters being disenfranchised.

“There are multiple problems with it,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) told The Hill in April. “The president [of] United States does not control voting laws. The states control voting laws in America, and Congress can regulate, but Congress has not passed anything the president’s talking about.”

“I’ve seen voter suppression up close as someone who has run in Georgia numerous times,” Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) also said in April. “Officials in Georgia looked at the anatomy of my win the first time around and they came after it with surgical precision. I had to beat them in court in order to win my race. And so we’re seeing the president play out of the same playbook writ large.”