A federal judge blocked key parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order on mail voting on Thursday, June 25, ruling that the president overstepped his authority by trying to use federal agencies to control how states run elections.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani granted summary judgment for a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia.
The decision stops the administration from enforcing provisions that would have created federal lists of eligible voters and directed the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on those lists.
Judge Blocks Federal Voter List and Mail Ballot Provisions
Talwani, appointed by former President Barack Obama, said in her 37-page opinion that the Constitution gives states primary control over election administration.
“The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” she wrote.
Trump signed the order in March, which directed the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to compile lists of confirmed U.S. citizens of voting age using federal records.
States would have had to share their own mail ballot voter lists with the Postal Service at least 60 days before federal elections. The Postal Service would then only handle ballots for people on approved lists.
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The judge found these steps unconstitutional. She said federal agencies lack the power to build complete and accurate nationwide voter lists, and the Postal Service has no authority to act as an election gatekeeper.
The order also skipped required rulemaking procedures for the Postal Service.
The ruling applies directly to the 24 suing jurisdictions, which include many Democratic-led states and key battlegrounds such as Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, Arizona, and Nevada. It covers the November 2026 midterm elections and earlier contests this year.
Second Court Setback for Trump’s Election Agenda
This marks the second setback in two days for Trump’s election agenda. On Wednesday, another federal judge in Boston permanently blocked a separate executive order that tried to require proof of citizenship for voter registration.
Trump has made tightening election rules a priority since taking office, citing concerns about fraud in mail voting.
The administration has also pushed for access to state voter rolls and supported legislation like the SAVE America Act, which would add proof-of-citizenship and voter ID requirements nationwide. That bill has not advanced in the Senate.
States argued the March order would create chaos close to Election Day. Many had already printed ballots and envelopes that would not match the new federal requirements.
Election officials warned that sudden changes could delay delivery and confuse voters who rely on mail ballots, including members of the military, overseas citizens, older Americans, and people with disabilities.
States Warn of Election Disruption Ahead of Midterms
In a separate case in Washington, D.C., another judge had earlier allowed parts of the order to move forward for now, creating conflicting signals that will likely be resolved in higher courts.
The Constitution assigns to the states the primary responsibility for running elections, while Congress has limited power to set uniform rules for federal contests. Presidents have little direct say.
Thursday’s ruling does not affect other Trump administration efforts on elections, including investigations into past voting and work with states on voter roll maintenance. Those moves continue.
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With midterms five months away, both parties are aware that the legal battles could determine how the voting process unfolds.
Meanwhile, control of Congress hangs in the balance; any last-minute changes to mail voting procedures could shape turnout.
Administration Expected to Appeal Ruling
Talwani’s order is that major shifts in election rules must come from Congress or the states, not from unilateral executive action.
The Trump administration has not yet commented publicly on the latest defeat. The administration is expected to appeal Talwani’s decision.
