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Trump asks Supreme Court to restrict mail-in voting
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Sep 3 to allow USPS mail-in ballot restrictions. The fight could affect millions of voters in November's midterms.
Background
The Trump administration has sought to restrict mail-in voting, citing concerns about voter fraud, though studies show such fraud is rare. A federal judge in Boston blocked key parts of a USPS rule, and the administration is now asking the Supreme Court to intervene before the midterm elections.
How it unfolded
- Mar 2026President Trump signed an executive order directing federal agencies to take steps on mail-in voting, including having USPS create new rules.
- Jul 27, 2026After a federal judge in Boston blocked parts of the rule, the administration and 12 states asked the Supreme Court to step in.
- late Aug 2026The Supreme Court said the challenge was premature because USPS had not yet published regulations.
- Sep 3, 2026The administration returned to the Supreme Court, asking it to lift the block on the USPS rule.
- Sep 6, 2026The administration renewed its appeal after the judge extended the order blocking the rule.
Who’s saying what
- Administration
- The restrictions are commonsense measures to prevent voter fraud and are within USPS's authority to regulate the mail.
- Opponents
- The president lacks authority to set election rules, and the changes are unconstitutional and could disenfranchise voters.
Still unverified
Claims of widespread mail-in voter fraud have been repeatedly debunked by studies and audits, but the administration continues to cite them.