Chicago – August 24, 2026
The US Supreme Court on Monday handed President Donald Trump a preliminary victory in his push to restrict mail‑in voting, lifting a lower‑court block on parts of his executive order while leaving other legal hurdles in place.
In a 6–3 unsigned order, the justices vacated a June injunction that had prevented the administration from implementing key directives in 23 mostly Democratic‑led states and Washington, DC. The conservative majority held that the states’ challenge was premature because the order directs federal agencies to develop policies rather than immediately forcing states to change election procedures.
The ruling does not resolve whether Trump’s order is lawful, and a separate nationwide injunction issued on Aug. 11 by US District Judge Indira Talwani still bars the US Postal Service from enforcing new mail‑ballot certification rules for the November midterms. Election officials and voting‑rights groups warn that even partial implementation could disrupt ballot delivery and voter access just weeks before Election Day.
The three liberal justices dissented, signaling that further litigation over the order’s scope and constitutionality is likely as the midterm elections approach.
