The US Supreme Court has sided with President Donald Trump in his effort to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections, lifting a lower court injunction that had blocked parts of his administration’s plan. The 6-3 ruling, along ideological lines, allows the administration to proceed with an executive order creating “state citizenship lists” and directing the US Postal Service to determine who receives mail-in ballots.
The court’s decision clears the way for the implementation of these restrictions in 23 states and Washington, D.C., though the US Postal Service work on the order remains blocked nationwide. The administration had requested the Supreme Court’s intervention after a judge in Massachusetts issued the injunction in June. While the court has allowed the plan to move forward, the timing raises questions about whether significant changes can be implemented before some states begin sending mail ballots in the coming weeks.
Election officials have warned of potential “chaos” if Trump’s order is fully enacted so close to the election. Left-leaning outlets emphasize the potential for voter suppression, while right-leaning coverage frames the decision as a win for election integrity. Not in dispute is that the Supreme Court has removed a legal barrier to the administration’s plan, though practical hurdles remain.
The US Postal Service laid out how it would implement the order last week, but the extent to which these restrictions will impact mail-in voting remains to be seen. The ruling leaves open the question of whether the administration can fully enact its plan before the midterms, given the limited time remaining and ongoing logistical challenges.
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