Minnesota Senate
Minnesota House
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 1, 2026
Contact:
Senate: Salena Koster | salena.koster@mnsenate.gov | 651-321-8634
House: Marlee Schlegel | marlee.schlegel@house.mn.gov | 651-296-9873
DFL Elections Leaders Sound Alarm on Trump Executive Order that could Disenfranchise Minnesotans
ST. PAUL, Minn. — On Tuesday, March 31, 2026, President Trump issued a new Executive Order on election administration in an attempt to assert federal control over elections, create a national list of citizens, and restrict access to vote by mail.
Senate Elections Chair Jim Carlson (DFL – Eagan), Vice Chair Bonnie Westlin (DFL – Plymouth), and House Elections Finance and Government operations DFL Chair Mike Freiberg (DFL – Golden Valley) and DFL Vice Chair Liz Lee (DFL – Saint Paul) released the following statement:
“The United States Constitution is very clear: Election administration is the responsibility of states and Congress; not the decree of a president seeking to suppress the voices of Americans.”
The order would curtail access to mail-in voting for millions of Americans, a trusted system widely used by voters across the political spectrum, including the President himself. The order proposes the creation of a national voter list subject to manipulation and misuse by members of this administration. Further, Donald Trump is threatening to withhold federal funding from states that do not comply with this unlawful power grab.
For forty years, cities in Minnesota with fewer than 400 registered voters, and townships of any size have had the option to vote exclusively by mail. Nearly 150,000 Minnesotans living in these small cities and towns stand to be disenfranchised by President Trump.
“Trump’s order is not about election security, it is about undermining our democracy so he can artificially keep Republicans in control, regardless of the will of voters. We will not stand by while this administration attempts to erode the basic foundations of free and fair elections. Minnesota’s proud tradition of civic participation must and will be protected.”
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