Supreme Court Blocks Trump Mail-In Ballot Restrictions

The Supreme Court has temporarily rejected an executive order from President Donald Trump that sought to impose new restrictions on mail-in balloting. The decision allows states to continue using their existing processes for sending out mail ballots ahead of the November midterm elections.

The ruling followed a federal judge's September 13 order directing the U.S. Postal Service not to implement Trump's executive order. The administration had renewed its request to the Supreme Court on September 6 to permit these new restrictions.

The Trump administration's plan would have required states to adopt a uniform envelope style and submit lists of eligible voters to an online portal. The Postal Service could have refused to deliver ballots to non-compliant states. Mail ballots already are being distributed in states like Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, with more preparing to send them out this week.

The administration framed these proposed changes as commonsense measures within its authority to regulate mail. Trump has previously targeted mail balloting, falsely blaming it for his 2020 election loss and alleging it facilitates fraud, despite his own use of the method.

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the Supreme Court's brief order. Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed that the restrictions should not take effect for the upcoming midterms but suggested he might rule in favor of the Trump administration at a later date.

Democratic states and voting rights groups argued the proposed changes are unconstitutional. Election officials also contend there is insufficient time to revise their systems to comply with the new directives before the November elections.