The US supreme court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift an injunction against President Trump's executive order to restrict mail-in voting, though it remains unclear whether his administration can act before November's midterm elections.
Key facts
- The supreme court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift a June injunction from a Massachusetts judge.
- A second injunction remains in place, leaving room for legal challenges.
- Trump's March executive order sought a 'state citizenship list' of eligible voters for mail-in ballots.
- Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote a dissent warning the decision 'needlessly injects chaos and uncertainty' into the midterms.
The US supreme court has sided with Donald Trump in his effort to crack down on mail-in voting, according to the Guardian, though it is unclear whether his administration will be able to take action before the midterm elections in November.
The court’s justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift an injunction that a judge in Massachusetts had placed in June on an executive order issued by the president. However, a second injunction remains in place, and the ruling leaves room for further legal challenges.
Trump has repeatedly likened voting by mail to cheating, despite his own use of it and what the Guardian describes as overwhelming evidence that the system is secure. In March he ordered the government to create a ‘state citizenship list’ of eligible voters, requiring that mail-in ballots only be delivered to people on that list.
The president also directed the justice department to prioritise investigations and prosecutions of state and local election officials who issue ballots to people deemed ineligible to vote in federal elections.
In a dissent described by the Guardian as blistering, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote that the decision ‘needlessly injects chaos and uncertainty into the upcoming midterm elections.’
Why it matters
The ruling clears one legal obstacle to Trump's push to restrict mail-in voting, but with a second injunction still in place and further challenges possible, its practical effect before November's midterms remains uncertain.
Frequently asked questions
How did the supreme court vote on Trump's mail-in voting order?
The justices voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift a June injunction from a Massachusetts judge on the executive order, according to the Guardian.
Does the ruling immediately change mail-in voting rules?
Not necessarily. A second injunction remains in place and the ruling leaves room for legal challenges, so it is unclear whether the administration can act before the November midterms.
What did Trump's executive order require?
The March order directed the government to create a 'state citizenship list' of eligible voters, requiring that mail-in ballots only be delivered to people on that list, and told the justice department to prioritise prosecutions of officials who issue ballots to ineligible voters.