Blow to Trump: Supreme Court strikes down mail-in voting restriction in midterm elections

The U.S. Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's plan to restrict mail-in voting, ruling that the administration is unlikely to succeed in its claims. The ruling deals a blow to Trump, who attacks mail-in voting with unsubstantiated fraud allegations. Senior Democrats welcomed the decision.

The U.S. Supreme Court last night (Monday to Tuesday) rejected the Trump administration's plan to restrict the mailing of absentee ballots, thereby blocking a move that election officials said would have catastrophic consequences ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In a brief, unsigned order, a majority of justices ruled that the administration "is unlikely to succeed on its substantive claims" and froze the procedure that would have given the U.S. Postal Service unprecedented authority to delay millions of ballot envelopes. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, a Democrat, welcomed the ruling, saying "Trump's attempt to sabotage the 2026 elections has failed." The plan required all states to upload voter registration databases to a dedicated portal that had not yet been activated, and prohibited postal workers from delivering envelopes not appearing on the lists. A broad petition by a bipartisan coalition of election officials, former governors, and two dozen states warned of chaos and disenfranchisement of millions. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the majority, clarifying that election officials did not have enough time to implement the procedure. The Supreme Court's decision deals a blow to Trump, who attacks mail-in voting with unsubstantiated fraud allegations. Dissenting Justices Alito and Thomas opposed.