Supreme Court lifts injunction on Trump mail-ballot executive order in 23 states

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday voted along ideological lines to lift a Massachusetts district judge’s injunction that had halted key provisions of a Trump administration executive order targeting mail-in ballots. The order seeks to create a federal list of eligible voters and direct the Postal Service to deliver ballots only to those on the list. The majority’s 6-3 decision cleared the way for the order to be applied in California and 22 other states that had sued, as well as in Alabama and 11 additional states.

The court’s unsigned opinion said the lower court had acted prematurely, noting that federal agencies had not yet finalized implementation plans. It added that the ruling does not guarantee the legality of any future measures the government might take under the order.

New York Attorney General Letitia James, one of the challengers, called the decision “a painful setback, but it will not be the final word.”

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, writing for the dissent, said the decision does not resolve whether the president’s actions to influence state administration of the 2026 elections are lawful, and that it merely postpones further adjudication. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson added that the majority focused on a technical issue rather than the broader implications of the administration’s efforts.

The administration told the court that the Postal Service’s final regulation would not refuse to transmit ballots even if senders are not on a state-approved list. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued that courts should wait until agencies determine how to implement the order, noting the Postal Service’s limited resources and the proximity of upcoming elections.

The ruling is provisional and leaves open the possibility of further judicial intervention, especially as states prepare for the 2026 midterm elections.