Supreme Court Declines to Reinstate Mail-in Ballot Restrictions

Why it matters locally: While Massachusetts has well-established mail-in and early voting procedures, this Supreme Court decision reinforces the ability of states to maintain such processes without immediate federal intervention to restrict them.

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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.