Court Decision on Trump’s Mail Voting Order

A panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia decided not to block President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting mail voting. This decision came a day after Trump’s administration approached the Supreme Court regarding the proposal.

Initially, U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ruled against an injunction on the order, citing that it was too early for such a measure. He stated that the order’s challengers needed to wait until formal regulations were issued. Subsequently, the administration began releasing these directives.

The appellate panel, consisting of two Obama appointees and one Trump appointee, agreed with Nichols’ ruling. Their unsigned decision pointed out that any attempt by the administration to enforce significant changes close to the November midterm elections might be stopped by the courts. The panel referenced a past legal opinion, emphasizing that the President lacks explicit constitutional authority over election conduct. It warned that implementing such a significant overhaul of election procedures could prove unfeasible, especially with the Postal Service involved in proposed mail-handling reforms.

In a related case, Democratic state officials managed to block the executive order in Massachusetts last month. A federal judge ruled against it for the 2020 elections, stating it forced states to quickly revise their procedures. This decision was later upheld by a Boston appeals court and is now under review by the Supreme Court.

The Postal Service has not commented on steps being taken regarding Trump’s order. However, the American Postal Workers Union mentioned plans for an online portal for voter information submission, indicating ongoing preparations. Jonathan Smith, the union president, confirmed that IT teams are working on this.

Trump’s efforts to alter voting procedures trace back to unfounded claims of voter fraud after his 2020 election loss. His March executive order directed the federal government to compile a list of eligible voters and have ballots delivered only to those listed. Lawsuits pointed out that the U.S. Constitution allocates election control to states, not the president. Congress has the authority to modify federal election procedures but has not enacted such laws.

Last year, Trump signed another executive order calling for a nationwide voter ID requirement and documentation proving citizenship for voter registration. He continues to urge Congress to pass a comprehensive voting bill with these requirements. However, opposition from Democrats and some Republicans has stalled the bill in the Senate.

Associated Press writer John Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, also contributed to this report.