U.S. Appeals Court Upholds Injunction Blocking Trump's Mail‑In Voting Order
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit confirmed a district‑court injunction that halts President Donald Trump's March executive order aimed at tightening mail‑in voting. The three‑judge panel voted 2‑1 to keep the injunction in place, finding that the president lacks authority to direct the Department of Homeland Security to create a "state citizenship list" of eligible voters and to require the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to voters on that list.
The order was challenged by a coalition of 23 states and the District of Columbia, who argued that the measure infringes the Constitution and that election rules are set by states and Congress, not the president. District Judge Indira Talwani issued the original injunction on June 25, and the appellate court rejected the Justice Department’s request to lift it. The ruling applies to the upcoming November 3, 2026 midterm elections, and the administration may seek further review by the Supreme Court.
The decision is seen as a significant setback to the Trump administration’s effort to restrict mail‑in voting and underscores ongoing legal battles over election procedures ahead of the 2026 midterms.
Entities: Department of Homeland Security · Donald Trump · Indira Talwani · U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit · United States Postal Service
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] Trump claimed the order was needed to prevent non‑U.S. citizens from voting. (All three articles)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a district‑court injunction against President Donald Trump's executive order on mail‑in voting. (preserves the injunction)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The executive order directed the Department of Homeland Security to compile a state citizenship list of eligible voters. (executive order text)
- [● 9 SOURCES] U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani issued the injunction halting the executive order. (district judge ruling)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The appellate decision was a 2‑1 split. (court opinion)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The lawsuit was brought by 23 states and the District of Columbia. (plaintiff filings)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The order instructed the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on the state citizenship list. (executive order text)
- [● 9 SOURCES] The injunction blocks implementation of the order for the November 3, 2026 midterm elections in the suing states. (court order)