Missouri AG leads multi-state effort to defend federal election integrity order

FOX23 News at 9 p.m

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo., (KBSI) — Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway announced the state is leading a coalition of 12 states seeking to defend a presidential executive order aimed at strengthening election integrity.

The coalition filed a motion to intervene in federal court to support the order, which focuses on verifying voter registration lists and improving election security measures. The filing was submitted in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and the District of Massachusetts.

The executive order, issued March 31, directs federal agencies to develop a “State Citizenship List” to assist states in identifying eligible voters and maintaining accurate voter rolls. It also calls for the U.S. Postal Service to implement additional safeguards for mail-in and absentee ballots, including tracking measures for official election mail.

Legal challenges to the order have been filed by several states and advocacy groups, which argue it represents federal overreach into state-controlled election processes.

Missouri is joined in the filing by attorneys general from Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota and Texas.

The case remains pending.