U.S. Supreme Court Gives Trump Partial Victory Over Mail-In Ballot Restrictions
The U.S. Supreme Court has handed President Donald Trump’s administration a partial victory in its push to restrict the use of mail-in ballots ahead of the November midterm elections.
The court lifted a lower-court order that had blocked part of Trump’s executive order, but left a separate injunction against a key element of the plan intact.
The ruling does not settle the broader legal battle over the president’s election directive, leaving the future of the restrictions uncertain as the midterms draw closer.
The Supreme Court’s 6-3 conservative majority ruled Monday that a challenge brought by 23 mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia was premature.
The states had sued to block Trump’s March executive order, arguing that the federal government was overstepping its authority by seeking to influence how states administer elections.
The justices, however, left open the possibility of a renewed legal challenge as the November elections approach.
Trump’s order directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile and provide states with lists of citizens considered eligible to vote in federal elections.
It also instructs the Justice Department to prioritise investigations and prosecutions of state and local election officials who issue ballots to individuals deemed ineligible to vote in federal elections.
The dispute comes as Republicans and Democrats prepare for a closely fought battle for control of Congress.
Mail-in voting has become a particularly contentious issue in U.S. elections, with Democrats historically more likely than Republicans to use the method.
Restrictions on mail ballots could therefore have significant political consequences, particularly in closely contested states and congressional races.
Monday’s ruling stems from an injunction issued in June by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston.
While the Supreme Court’s decision removes one obstacle to the administration’s efforts, the remaining injunction means a central part of Trump’s plan is still blocked.
The legal fight is expected to continue, potentially placing the rules governing mail-in voting under renewed scrutiny as the midterm elections approach.
