A U.S. federal judge has halted a key part of President Donald Trump's effort to tighten rules around mail-in voting, dealing another legal setback to the administration's attempts to expand federal involvement in election oversight ahead of November's congressional elections.
The ruling centres on a provision that would have required states to share lists of voters eligible to receive ballots by mail. Under the plan, the U.S. Postal Service could have refused to deliver ballots in states that failed to comply.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani concluded that the federal government does not have the authority to impose such requirements on states, arguing that election administration is primarily a state responsibility under the U.S. Constitution.
The decision marks the latest chapter in a long-running debate over mail-in voting and the balance of power between federal and state authorities.
Trump has repeatedly argued for stricter election rules and has remained critical of vote-by-mail systems since the 2020 presidential election. The executive order, signed in March, formed part of a broader effort by his administration to increase oversight of election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterms, when control of Congress will be at stake.
Supporters of the order argued it was intended to strengthen election security and ensure that mail ballots are sent only to eligible voters.
Critics, however, viewed the measure as an attempt to create new barriers to voting and warned that it could disrupt established election processes in many states.
The judge's latest ruling broadens an earlier order issued in June that temporarily blocked implementation of the policy in 23 states.
Voting rights organisations had urged the court to go further, arguing that allowing the Postal Service to proceed elsewhere could create confusion and uncertainty as election preparations accelerate.
In her decision, Talwani wrote that changing election procedures so close to a national vote could undermine public confidence and create unnecessary disruption.
The ruling effectively prevents the U.S. Postal Service from implementing the contested portion of the executive order nationwide while the legal challenge continues.
The White House defended the president's election agenda, saying the administration remains committed to pursuing what it describes as measures aimed at protecting the integrity and security of U.S. elections.
The Trump administration has already asked the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene in the case and overturn earlier restrictions imposed by the lower court. Government lawyers have argued that the challenge was brought before any final implementation plan had been completed and that the courts acted prematurely.
The Supreme Court has not yet issued a decision.
The timing of the case has added to its significance.
With fewer than three months remaining before Americans vote in the 2026 midterm elections, election officials across the country are already finalising procedures for ballot distribution and voter registration.
Voting rights advocates welcomed the ruling, arguing that stability and clarity are essential during the final stages of election preparation.
The decision means existing mail voting procedures will remain in place for now while the broader legal battle over the limits of presidential authority in election administration continues through the courts.
As the midterm elections approach, the case is expected to remain one of the most closely watched election-related disputes in the United States, with the potential for a future Supreme Court ruling to shape the role of the federal government in election oversight.
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