The US Supreme Court has upheld a lower court order temporarily preventing the implementation of changes to postal voting procedures proposed by President Donald Trump’s administration ahead of the November midterm elections.
The ruling means the US Postal Service (USPS) cannot move forward with the new requirements for mail-in ballots while legal challenges continue through the courts. The decision represents a setback for the administration, which argued that the changes were intended to strengthen election integrity and reduce the risk of electoral fraud.
The proposal stemmed from an executive order signed in March directing the USPS to deliver ballots only to voters appearing on citizen voter lists. Opponents challenged the measure in court, arguing that it could interfere with states’ authority to administer elections and potentially affect voter access to mail-in ballots.
Election officials from 24 states and the District of Columbia also raised concerns about implementation, saying the changes were not ready to be introduced before the election and could create disruptions in ballot delivery.
In the Supreme Court’s decision, Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed that the changes should not take effect before the 2026 elections. However, he indicated that the administration’s position could still ultimately succeed when the broader case is fully considered.
Kavanaugh wrote that there was a reasonable possibility that the Postal Service may have legal authority to make such changes, but concluded that implementing them during the current election cycle could be considered arbitrary and disruptive.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing that the legal challenge faced significant hurdles and that the Postal Service has broad authority to regulate mail operations.
The White House had not publicly commented on the ruling immediately after it was issued.
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