The US Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to enforce new restrictions on mail-in ballots as voting was already underway for the 2026 midterms. In a brief order, the court declined to block a lower court’s preliminary injunction against a Postal Service rule stemming from a March executive order. The rule would have required states to provide lists of ballot recipients and use pre-approved envelopes, allowing the Postal Service to deny delivery for non-compliance.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that applying the rule during the 2026 elections would be arbitrary and capricious because officials lacked time to implement it, while Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. Voting rights advocates had warned the rule could cause confusion and disenfranchise voters.
The ruling allows mail ballots to be processed under prior state procedures without the administration’s added requirements. Legal experts noted the case could return to the courts for a fuller hearing after the election.