Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration's Mail-In Ballot Restrictions for 2026 Midterm Elections

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday denied an emergency application from the Department of Justice, effectively blocking new U.S. Postal Service regulations on mail-in voting that stemmed from a March 2026 executive order by President Donald Trump. The Court's per curiam order stated that the federal government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge, leaving in place a lower court's preliminary injunction. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred, citing the practical impossibility for states to implement the new rules so close to the November elections, while Justices Alito and Thomas dissented. The regulations would have mandated specific ballot-envelope designs, unique voter barcodes, and voter roster uploads to a USPS portal.