US Supreme Court rejects Trump bid to restrict mail ballots as voting begins
Also reported by BBC World
Summary
The US Supreme Court rejected President Donald Trump’s request to impose new limits on mail ballots for the November midterm elections. This decision allows states to continue using their current mail voting methods as ballots are already being sent out.Key Facts
- The Supreme Court declined President Trump’s bid to restrict mail ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms.
- States can keep using their existing mail voting procedures, which many have used for years.
- About one-third of votes in some elections come from mail ballots.
- Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas disagreed with the Court’s decision.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh said the new rules should not apply now but might support them later.
- Election officials warned last-minute changes could disrupt ballot delivery.
- Some states, like Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, already began mailing ballots before changes could take effect.
- The Trump administration wanted uniform envelopes and voter lists uploaded online to the Postal Service, which could refuse ballots that don’t meet these rules.
