Judge clears way for Trump mail-in ballot executive order

A federal judge ruled Thursday that President Trump’s March executive order, which strengthens citizenship verification and integrity rules for mail-in ballots, can proceed despite legal challenges. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols dismissed a lawsuit brought by the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), NAACP, and League of United Latin American Citizens, stating the plaintiffs failed to prove harm from the order’s proposed federal voter list. The order directs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail-in ballots only to individuals on state-approved voter rolls, using federal citizenship data. Nichols rejected claims the order violated the Privacy Act or infringed on states’ election authority, noting the list would only share existing federal records. He also dismissed concerns that Democratic voters would disproportionately face voting barriers. The ruling comes as Trump and Republicans push to maintain control of Congress, including advancing the SAVE America Act, which would require voter citizenship proof ahead of midterms. Meanwhile, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, will hear arguments next week in Boston against Trump’s mail-in ballot restrictions in a case filed by Democratic states. Trump himself voted by mail in Florida’s recent special election, highlighting the political divide over voting methods. The legal battles underscore ongoing tensions between federal oversight and state election laws ahead of the 2026 midterms.