A federal appeals court has upheld a ruling that blocks President Trump's executive order to create a federal voter list and restrict mail-in ballot delivery in 23 states.
Key facts
- •The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued its ruling on Saturday, July 25, 2026.
- •The injunction applies to 23 states that joined the lawsuit against the administration.
- •State election officials argued the proposed changes could lead to abuse and chaos in the electoral process.
- •The White House and Justice Department did not provide immediate comment on the ruling as of Sunday, July 26, 2026.
The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld an injunction preventing the implementation of President Donald Trump's executive order regarding federal voter lists. The order, which sought to create a list of eligible voters and restrict mail-in ballot delivery to those on that list, is now halted in the 23 states that challenged the policy in court.
Background of the Executive Order
In March, President Trump issued an executive order directing the director of U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the commissioner of the Social Security Administration to compile a "state citizenship list" of eligible voters. The order further mandated that the U.S. Postal Service deliver mail-in ballots exclusively to individuals included on this list. Mr. Trump stated the changes were intended to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting.
Legal Challenge and Ruling
Democratic officials from 23 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Boston, arguing that the order was unconstitutional. They contended that the authority to establish election rules resides with Congress and individual states, not the President. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani initially granted the injunction, which the appeals court has now upheld for the states involved in the litigation ahead of the November 3 elections.
Timeline
- March 2026President Trump issued an executive order to create a federal voter list and restrict mail-in ballot delivery.
- July 25, 2026The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld an injunction blocking the order in 23 states.
- July 26, 2026The White House and Justice Department did not return requests for comment.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by The Hindu.
