Judge blocks Trump's order to impose new limits on mail voting

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has declined to issue a temporary block on President Trump’s executive order aimed at restricting mail-in voting, according to a ruling released on May 28. The decision by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, allows the order to remain in effect for now, pending further legal challenges. The order directs the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Postal Service to create lists of eligible voters and restrict mail-in ballot delivery to those on the lists.

The ruling has drawn criticism from Democrats and voting rights advocates, who argue that the order oversteps the president’s constitutional authority and could suppress voter participation. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer stated that the order is voter suppression. Opponents of the order, including multiple states and legal advocacy groups, have filed five lawsuits challenging legality.

The U.S. Postal Service has begun the process of drafting rules related to the order, but it has clarified that it will not verify eligibility of voters on the lists. The outcome of ongoing litigation will determine whether the order can be implemented in its current form.