Judge refuses to block Trump order to limit mail voting

A federal judge in Washington, Carl Nichols, declined late Wednesday to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at establishing a federal voter list and restricting mail voting. The ruling clears the way for potential changes ahead of this year’s midterm elections, despite objections from Democrats and civil rights groups who argued the order overstepped presidential authority. Nichols, a Trump appointee, agreed with the administration’s claim that implementation had not yet begun, making a preliminary injunction unwarranted. He noted that legal challenges could resume if the government proceeds with voter lists or enforces new postal rules affecting ballots. A separate lawsuit seeking to block the order is ongoing in Boston, though no voting changes are expected during primary elections, which run into next month. The Trump administration has not yet issued formal voter eligibility lists, but groups like the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) vowed to challenge the order if it moves forward. Juan Proaño, LULAC’s CEO, stated the organization would ‘resume the fight’ if the administration takes further action. Democratic groups also expressed confidence in ultimately prevailing in court. Trump issued the order in March after a voting reform bill he supported failed in Congress. The directive would require the U.S. Postal Service to distribute mail ballots only to verified voters, a move critics called unworkable and prone to abuse. Postal unions and election officials have opposed the plan, warning it could disrupt voting processes. This is Trump’s second executive order targeting elections; his first, requiring citizenship documentation for voter registration, was blocked by multiple federal judges. Since losing the 2020 election to Joe Biden, Trump has repeatedly claimed mail voting is fraudulent, despite audits and investigations finding no widespread irregularities. The White House did not respond to a request for comment.