What the Supreme Court's mail-in ballot decision could mean

What the Supreme Court’s mail-in ballot decision could mean

The Supreme Court ruling created a path for President Donald Trump’s restrictions on mail-in voting, introducing uncertainty for millions of voters accustomed to casting their ballots by mail.

admin August 25, 2026 2 minutes read

article

FILE-An election worker processes mail-in ballots for the California state primary election at the Los Angeles County Ballot Processing Center on June 05, 2026 in City of Industry, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

The Supreme Court’s decision granting preliminary approval for President Donald Trump’s order restricting mail voting might not lead to an election method change during the midterm elections in November.

According to The Associated Press, a second injunction prohibiting the U.S. Postal Service from making changes to comply with Trump’s directive remains in effect.

RELATED: Supreme Court rules states can count late-arriving mailed ballots, rejects Trump-led challenge

This rule also requires a particular layout for envelopes containing mail ballots and requires states to use an electronic system to identify to the Postal Service who is voting by mail. If states don’t comply with the rule, their mail ballots won’t get sent.

Supreme Court mail-in ballot decision

Dig deeper: The Supreme Court’s order opens a path for the Trump administration to begin action to restrict mail voting, however, it may lead to more litigation that might freeze the federal government again.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration filed a motion on Monday requesting that the second hold be removed and has posted new regulations from the Postal Service that would start Tuesday if the legal route were cleared.

Democratic officials in 23 states and Washington, D.C. sued to block the order. Officials contend that the Constitution gives states and Congress the power to run elections, and Trump’s changes may cause problems.

Moreover, the Election Assistance Commission found that 29% of voters in 2024 cast their ballots through the mail.

Still, Trump has to date been unable to make the changes he’s demanded because the Constitution grants control of voting rules to states, and in federal elections, to Congress — not the president.

Legal experts weighed in, telling the AP that this is why they believe it’s unlikely Trump’s order will be enforced. The majority in the Supreme Court’s unsigned order noted that it hasn’t determined whether the measure is constitutional.