Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Mail-In Voting Restrictions Ahead of Midterm Elections

The Supreme Court has dismissed former President Trump’s attempt to restrict mail-in voting for the upcoming midterm elections. The ruling ensures the U.S. Postal Service will proceed with delivering ballots as usual.

Mail-in voting is already underway in states such as Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Western states like Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington, where mail-in voting is predominantly used, will soon follow.

Trump’s proposed changes, based on his executive order, required states to submit voter lists and incorporate specific barcodes on ballot envelopes for the USPS to deliver them. This plan, however, was initially blocked by a federal judge in Boston who issued a preliminary injunction. The judge ruled that the requirements were likely illegal as the Postal Service lacks authority over mail-in voting.

A second federal judge supported this injunction, and the Supreme Court has now upheld it, indicating the administration may not succeed in its challenge. Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed in a concurring opinion, noting the rule might fit within the Postal Service’s statutory authority but would be unfeasible for 2026 elections, as states need time to implement it adequately.

Republican election officials, including those from Utah, have cautioned the Supreme Court that pursuing the USPS plan could cause confusion and errors for voters and officials.

Conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas disagreed with the decision and would have allowed the administration’s request to postpone the Boston judge’s ruling.

Trump argued that the rule changes aimed to prevent illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens, despite studies showing such incidents are rare. Evidence of mail-in voting fraud has not been presented in court by the administration’s legal team.

Mail-in voting critics, including Trump, have noted its increased use during past elections. In 2024, a survey found a higher percentage of Democrats (37%) used mail-in voting compared to Republicans (24%). Despite criticism, Trump voted by mail in Florida.