U.S. court blocks Trump bid to curb mail-in ballots
A U.S. federal judge blocked President Trump's executive order aimed at restricting mail-in ballots, citing a lack of evidence for fraud and the logistical impossibility of implementation before the midterms. The administration is expected to appeal the decision.
Why it matters
The ruling impacts the administration of U.S. elections and highlights the ongoing legal battle over voting procedures ahead of the midterms.
A U.S. federal judge blocked President Donald Trump's executive order on Thursday (August 27, 2026) curbing the use of mail-in ballots, the latest twist in a legal dispute months before November's midterm elections.
Mr. Trump signed an order in March seeking to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the midterms, but it was immediately met with multiple legal challenges.
Democratic-led states sued the administration on the grounds that under the U.S. Constitution, states - and not the federal government - retain broad control over the administration of elections.
The ruling comes just three days after the Supreme Court lifted a lower court decision to block the directive, prompting a fresh legal challenge from Democratic states.
Mr. Trump's executive order would require the compilation of lists of eligible voters and for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters who are on the lists.
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