Trump administration appeals latest ruling blocking his mail voting
order from taking effect
[August 29, 2026]
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration is appealing a judge’s ruling
that blocked limitations on mail voting before the midterm elections,
the latest twist in a court fight unfolding days before the first states
begin sending out mail ballots for the pivotal November elections.
The notice of appeal filed Friday comes after a federal judge in Boston
handed down a new decision blocking implementation of an executive order
from President Donald Trump for the next two weeks.
The Supreme Court previously allowed the plan to move ahead on
procedural grounds, but hasn’t decided whether it’s legal. The U.S. 1st
Circuit Court of Appeals will next consider the case, though it could
soon be back before the nation's highest court.
Under Trump’s executive order, the U.S. Postal Service could refuse to
deliver ballots from states that do not submit lists of eligible voters
and follow a uniform envelope style. The White House calls the plan a
set of “commonsense measures” aimed at protecting ballot security, and
calls the order blocking it “unreasoned and unlawful.”
Celina Stewart, chief executive officer of the League of Women Voters,
which sued to block Trump, said the plaintiffs are confident the law is
on their side.
“I'm hoping that federal judges continue to hold the line on their
constitutional authority and duty,” Stewart said, adding, “The bottom
line for voters is, right now, your right to vote has not changed.”
U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani found that states don't have
the time or money to design and produce new ballots, update their
systems and train officials to upload voter data to the Postal Service
in the short time before the midterm elections.
The first mail ballots of the general election to determine control of
Congress are scheduled to be sent out Sept. 4.
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Election workers sort vote-by-mail ballots at the Miami-Dade County
Supervisor of Elections Office for the Florida primary election in
Doral, Fla., Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The Thursday ruling came after Democrats and voting rights groups
filed a fresh round of lawsuits to comply with the recent Supreme
Court decision. They note that the Constitution grants states and,
in some cases, Congress the power to make election rules — not the
president or Postal Service.
The whipsawing legal battle could have major ramifications for the
midterms. Nearly one-third of Americans vote by mail and election
officials contend there isn’t enough time to revise their systems to
comply with the new Postal Service directives.
The president has long targeted mail voting, which he falsely blames
for his 2020 election loss even though he himself uses it to cast
his ballot. A report by the Brookings Institution published in 2025
found that mail voting fraud occurred in only about four cases out
of every 10 million mail ballots cast.
Trump's executive order was challenged in court shortly after being
issued in March. Talwani, nominated to the bench by President Barack
Obama, agreed to block it for the midterm elections. But the Supreme
Court found earlier this week that she had acted too soon. The Post
Office plan has since been finalized.
Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.
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