Supreme Court

Why a Trump-Appointed Judge Just Blocked the President's Mail-In Ballot Restrictions

A notable legal defeat for the Trump administration.

Damon Root | 9.15.2026 7:00 AM

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Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled 6–3 that the executive branch may begin to implement President Donald Trump's executive order that seeks to restrict the use of mail-in ballots in the fast-approaching midterm elections this November. At the same time, however, the Court also made it clear that its ruling was not the final word on the matter. "The Court's disposition of this application does not mean that any measure taken by the Government to implement the Order will necessarily be lawful," explained its unsigned majority opinion. "On that score, time will tell." In other words, the real legal battle over Trump's mail-in ballot order was just getting started.

On Sunday, the administration suffered a notable defeat in that now-unfolding battle.........

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