Supreme Court Declines to Reinstate Mail-in Ballot Restrictions

Why it matters locally: California has a long history of utilizing mail-in ballots, with all registered voters automatically receiving a mail-in ballot since 2021. This Supreme Court decision means that federal challenges to the general practice of mail-in voting, which is deeply ingrained in California's election process, have been unsuccessful at this level.

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WASHINGTON D.C. — The Supreme Court declined a request from the Trump administration to lift a federal judge's temporary block on new regulations concerning mail-in ballots. The administration had sought to implement the restrictions after a lower court issued an injunction against them. Following the Supreme Court's decision, President Donald Trump criticized the ruling. He stated, "The Supreme Court has allowed lower courts to control our election rules." He added, "This is a dangerous ruling for the USA!" Trump elaborated on his concerns regarding mail-in voting. He said, "The Supreme Court has great difficulty with vote by mail, and yet they are allowing massive numbers of unrequested & fraudulent ballots to be sent to people who have no interest in voting." He also stated, "This will lead to the most corrupt Election in our Nation’s History." The Court's action means the federal judge's block on the mail-in ballot rules remains in effect. The administration's attempt to reverse that injunction proved unsuccessful at the Supreme Court level.