The US Supreme Court did not allow the Trump administration to proceed with restricting mail-in ballot delivery before the midterm elections, pointing out there was insufficient time for states and localities to adjust their systems.
On 14 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the US Supreme Court issued an order blocking President Donald Trump's plan to change nationwide mail-in ballot procedures before the midterm elections. Election officials warned that if the measures were implemented, they could cause confusion and prevent many voters from casting their ballots.
Reports indicate this case was among the urgent matters the Supreme Court reviewed, with the majority ruling against allowing Trump's government departments to enforce new procedures that would empower the US Postal Service to suspend delivery of potentially millions of mail-in ballots.
Trump's administration aimed to revise mail-in ballot procedures citing election fraud prevention, but opponents viewed it as expanding federal power and potentially infringing on voter rights. Election officials from various areas, including Republican officials, warned there was insufficient time to change systems before the midterms.
Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh partly dissented, stating that while the measure might fall within the Postal Service's authority, state and local election officials did not have enough time to properly implement the new rules before the election.
This ruling represents a significant setback for President Trump, who has long criticized mail-in voting and alleged widespread fraud, despite voting by mail himself. However, the court has not yet ruled on whether Trump's order is unconstitutional, meaning the issue could return to the Supreme Court in future elections.
Source: BBC