Topline
A federal judge on Thursday again barred the Trump administration from enforcing its newly introduced mail‑in voting restrictions ahead of the midterm elections, only days after the Supreme Court vacated a prior injunction without addressing the legality of the administration’s effort to limit mail‑in voting.
A federal judge once again blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to curb mail-in voting.
AFP via Getty Images
Key Facts
Massachusetts‑based U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani determined that the coalition of Democratic states challenging the administration’s restrictions “is likely to prevail on the merits” of their claim that the Postal Service’s mail‑in ballot rules are “unconstitutional.”
Talwani observed that the evidence demonstrates Democratic states would suffer “irreparable harm” if compelled to adhere to the “likely unconstitutional regulation,” and that meeting the requirements before the midterms is “practically impossible.”
The Postal Service issued its final rules governing mail‑in ballots—derived from the President’s March executive order—on Wednesday, instituting new design specifications among other requirements.
The decision highlighted that the plaintiff states lack “the time or resources” to redesign ballots, obtain approvals, and update their systems on such short notice before the midterms, noting that some states’ statutes require ballots to be sent out as early as next week.
Talwani granted a temporary restraining order, halting implementation of the rule for an additional two weeks.
How Democratic States Have Responded to the Ruling
New York Attorney General Letitia James posted on X: “We have secured a court order blocking the Trump administration’s new rule that would have enabled the USPS to meddle with mail‑in voting. The responsibility for administering elections lies with the states, and the Postal Service lacks the authority to determine who may vote by mail.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta also celebrated the decision, tweeting: “We’ve achieved an early victory by halting this unlawful attempt to curtail mail voting. President Trump must refrain from interfering with our elections.”
What to Watch For
The decision is expected to be contested by the Trump administration, which has yet to issue a statement. The anticipated appeal comes just days after the Supreme Court issued a procedural order on the matter without adjudicating the legality of the mail‑in voting restrictions.
What We Know About the Supreme Court Ruling
In a 6‑3 decision earlier this week, the Supreme Court’s conservative majority granted the Trump administration’s appeal against a lower‑court injunction that had barred agencies such as the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security from enforcing parts of the President’s March executive order restricting mail‑in ballots. The majority cautioned, however, that the ruling “does not imply that any government action taken to implement the Order will automatically be lawful. On that point, time will tell,” leaving room for future litigation. The three liberal justices dissented, arguing that the decision “unnecessarily introduces chaos and uncertainty into the upcoming midterm elections.”
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