By Blessing Fali
The United States Supreme Court has given President Donald Trump a temporary victory in his effort to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November 2026 midterm elections.
In a 6-3 decision, the court lifted a lower court order that had blocked parts of Trump’s executive order targeting mail-in ballots. The justices did not, however, rule on whether the executive order itself is lawful.
The ruling allows the Trump administration to move forward with key aspects of the order, including plans involving voter eligibility lists and changes to how the US Postal Service handles mail ballots.
The case was brought by 23 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. The Supreme Court’s conservative majority ruled that the states had challenged the order prematurely and had not demonstrated sufficient harm to establish legal standing.
The decision does not end the wider legal battle. A separate court injunction remains in place against some parts of the administration’s plan, while additional lawsuits are expected as states prepare to send out ballots for the midterm elections.
The Trump administration has argued that the restrictions are necessary to protect election security and prevent voting by people who are not eligible. Critics, however, say the measures could create confusion and make it more difficult for eligible voters to cast their ballots by mail.
The Supreme Court’s decision could therefore have significant implications for the administration of the 2026 midterm elections, with further court battles likely before voting begins.
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