WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s bid to restrict mail-in voting through new U.S. Postal Service rules, leaving long-standing state procedures in place with less than two months before the midterm elections.
In a brief unsigned order, the justices left intact a lower-court injunction that barred the Postal Service from implementing key parts of the administration’s plan. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented. Justice Brett Kavanaugh concurred in the denial, writing that election officials lacked sufficient time to implement the changes before November.
What the ruling means for voters
Mail voting has already begun in some states. The decision means states can continue sending and receiving ballots under the systems they have used for years. Mail ballots have accounted for roughly one-third of votes cast in recent federal elections.
The administration had sought rules that would have required states to share voter lists with the Postal Service and limited delivery of ballots in certain circumstances. Lower courts found the timing too disruptive so close to Election Day.
📬 The Supreme Court shot down a USPS rule at the center of Trump’s mail-voting attack — but not before the rule could rattle voters’ faith that they could safely vote by mail.
— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) September 16, 2026
Trump’s reaction
President Donald Trump criticized the decision on social media, directing sharp remarks at the justices, including those he appointed. He has long argued that mail voting invites fraud, though extensive audits and court rulings have not found widespread fraud in recent elections.
Election officials and voting-rights groups welcomed the clarity. They said last-minute federal changes risked confusion and disenfranchisement for voters who rely on mail ballots, including military personnel, older Americans, and people with disabilities.
Looking ahead
The ruling applies to the 2026 midterms. Broader legal questions about the Postal Service’s authority and the scope of federal power over election administration could return in future cases. For now, the practical effect is continuity: the same mail-voting systems states have used will operate through November.
Voters who plan to cast mail ballots should check their state’s deadlines and tracking tools. Officials urge early action given potential postal delays.
