Key facts
- The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a judicial injunction on President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail-in ballots.
- The executive order directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit lists of eligible voters to states.
- A federal judge had previously blocked the order, citing the president's lack of authority.
- The Supreme Court's 6-3 conservative majority ruled the states' legal claims were premature.
- A separate injunction blocking the USPS from implementing the order remains in place.
- The USPS issued a final rule requiring states to supply lists of mail ballot recipients and for envelopes to bear unique barcodes.
The U.S. Supreme Court has allowed the Trump administration to proceed with its executive order aimed at restricting mail-in ballots, lifting a judicial injunction that had previously blocked its implementation. The court's 6-3 conservative majority ruled that legal claims by California and other states challenging the order were premature, as they had not yet suffered concrete harm. The executive order, issued in March, directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and transmit lists of eligible voters to states and prioritizes investigating election officials who issue ballots to ineligible individuals. It also requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters on approved lists.
However, a federal judge declined to block a final rule by the U.S. Postal Service that tightens requirements for mail-in voting, even as she concluded the agency had violated a court order by issuing it. This means further legal battles are likely, and the full impact on mail-in voting for the upcoming November midterm elections remains uncertain. The USPS has issued a final rule to implement the directive, requiring states to supply lists of recipients and for ballot envelopes to bear unique barcodes, but this rule is also facing legal challenges.
California Governor Gavin Newsom vowed further legal action, calling the rules "Orwellian." White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis, however, hailed the decision as a win for election security, stating it protects the integrity of mail-in ballots.