The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump Administration's attempt to limit mail-in voting for now, keeping in place a lower court decision blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing new restrictions.
"The Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge to the District Court's preliminary injunction," the ruling said.
The ruling clears the way for states to continue sending out mail-in ballots as planned ahead of the midterms.
President Donald Trump, who has pushed unfounded claims of widespread mail ballot fraud, wants states to report to USPS basic voter information, such as a voter's name and home address, attached to a unique barcode on every mail-in ballot distributed. Postal workers would then only deliver ballots addressed to voters who appear on the state-provided list.
The Trump Administration has insisted the rules would impose only "modest" ballot design and review requirements on states and that a requirement to submit name, address, and barcode information of intended recipients was not onerous or intrusive.
Democratic-led states and voter advocacy groups have argued that the new USPS regulations are an attempt by the Trump administration to federalize elections, which are historically and constitutionally managed by each state, and make it harder to vote by mail for everyday citizens.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the majority, saying they would have allowed the Trump Administration to carry out its plan to impose new regulations on mail-in voting.
Monday's ruling likely ensures that states can continue mailing out ballots for the midterms as planned, though the legal battle over ballot restrictions has effectively been punted to the 2028 election. Based on the decision, at least three justices are open to the Trump Administration's arguments for the next time this case or a similar one returns to the high court.
New York Attorney General Letitia James, who was among a coalition that sued to block the USPS' new mail-in voting rule, released the following statement:
Today, the Supreme Court protected one of our most fundamental, inalienable rights -- the right to make your voice heard at the ballot box. This last-minute change could have thrown our elections into chaos, and I am truly relieved the Court granted this reprieve.
Voters should never have to wonder whether a ballot they legally cast will be counted because the federal government suddenly changed the rules. We will keep fighting to make sure every eligible ballot is counted come November.
Now, I encourage all eligible Americans to get out and vote -- and vote early.
