The US Supreme Court on Monday rejected President Donald Trump’s attempt to enforce stricter rules on mail-in ballots, dealing a setback to the administration ahead of the November midterm elections.
In an unsigned order, the conservative-majority court refused to lift a lower court injunction that blocked a US Postal Service rule requiring states to submit voter lists and use agency-approved ballot envelopes. The Postal Service would have been allowed to reject non-compliant ballots.
US District Judge Indira Talwani had imposed the injunction, finding the measure likely violated the Constitution and would be impractical so close to the elections.
The Trump administration had sought emergency relief, arguing it needed to “protect the mails from being used to commit voter fraud.”
The Supreme Court concluded the administration was “unlikely to succeed on the merits” of its challenge. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, a Trump appointee, joined the majority, though he left open the possibility of supporting the policy later.
Critics have warned the restrictions could disrupt the delivery of thousands of ballots and affect voters who rely on mail-in voting, particularly in some Democratic-leaning states. Several states, including Alabama, North Carolina and Wisconsin, have already begun mailing ballots.
Trump has repeatedly questioned the security of mail-in voting, citing claims of widespread fraud that have not been substantiated, even as he has used the method himself.
