Judge blocks Trump order that would have let USPS refuse to deliver mail ballots

[hookaleft]

A federal judge in Massachusetts Thursday blocked federal agencies from implementing President Donald Trump’s sweeping attack on mail voting and his attempt to create a national voter registration list before the midterm elections.

District Judge Indira Talwani, an Obama appointee, found that major parts of Trump’s March 2026 anti-voting executive order were “legally void” for exceeding the president’s power and violating the separation of powers by encroaching on states’ authority to administer elections.

“The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections,” Talwani wrote.

The 37-page ruling marks a major win for voters before the midterms. It halts the United States Postal Service (USPS) from refusing to deliver mail ballots unless states hand over their voter lists to the Trump administration.

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https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/judge-blocks-trump-mail-voting-executive-order/

[FakeNoose]

1. Thank you Judge Indira Talwani!

She's on a roll ... she is single-handedly saving our democracy. Kicking Chump's butt in court where it really matters!

Wiki link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indira_Talwani

[dave99]

5. Another real, normal Judge

Thank you

[FakeNoose]

7. Most of our federal judges are heroes

They take their oath to uphold the Constitution seriously, and with honor.

[NJCher]

13. Thanks for the bio lookup, FakeNoose

Stellar credentials, as she should have in a position like what she holds.

[kentuck]

2. Plan B

Send ICE and armed agents to the poll places and threaten people of color. Suppress the vote.

[WestMichRad]

3. I fear this will happen.

[PCIntern]

6. Let them try that in North Philly...

They would need a battalion at each polling place

[DemocracyForever]

9. This is unconstitutional.

[Bluetus]

18. On many levels. But the most basic issue is very important.

Last edited Fri Jun 26, 2026, 03:20 PM - Edit history (1)

The media keeps reporting trump's EOs as if they had some legal weight. In most case, they have no more weight then something scribbled on toilet paper.

An EO is nothing more than an instruction from the head of the Exec Branch (that's the president) to EMPLOYEES of the executive branch. An EO cannot tell anybody else what to do. Not private citizens. Not Congress. Not states. Not the courts. EOs only apply to people directly employed in the Executive Branch.

And in this case, USPS isn't even a government agency, let alone being in the Executive Branch. USPS receives some funding from Congress, but it has no relationship at all to the Executive Branch, other than that Treasury is required to send the money that Congress appropriates.

We really need to be much more clear about what EOs are and what they are not.

[DemocracyForever]

26. Trump's behavior is unconstitutional

Trump is clearly trying to circumvent the constitution with his executive orders. This is an important point to not forget. So far the courts are siding with the constitution in stopping Trump's executive orders.

[Bluetus]

27. We can help the courts by pushing the media to report on the EOs factually and accurately

90% of Trump's EOs have no legal weight at all, and this ought to be reported.

[DemocracyForever]

28. Trump's unconstitutional behavior

that's contained in his executive orders is what needs to be reported. EOs do go into effect if they're not stopped by the courts.

[Bluetus]

29. No, they don't. They have no legal wieght.

They don't "go into effect" by default. Trump just breaks the law and the EOs are irrelevant. But because Trump has loaded DoJ with fellow felons, we have to bring suit against each of his illegal acts.

The EOs are only legally relevant to the extent they are proof of his illegal intentions. That makes the suits a little easier. But basically his strategy is to crime faster than courts can act.

[DemocracyForever]

30. The EO's spell out Trump's unconstitutional behavior

which the corrupt Executive branch employees and the corrupt DOJ would carry out if there weren't lawsuits to stop them. This has been my point.

[Bluetus]

31. I think we are in full agreement

I just wanted to add that often, these cases turn on proof of malign intent, and state-of-mind can be very difficult to prove. The EOs serve a very important purpose by making Trump's malign intent completely transparent, documented in full and bearing his Sharpie signature.

[AverageOldGuy]

12. About ICE and the polls

I live in a heavily Hispanic area of northern Virginia (NOVA) in the outer DC suburbs. There is a good bit of quiet ICE activity here -- my illegal Mexican barber has friends who were deported and he is certain he is next.

We are a heavily Democratic area, so, I anticipate ICE or whatever at our polls, possibly even self-appointed "election defenders."

I walk with a cane. I'm 81, grew up in rural south Mississippi -- all males carried a pocket knife. Not for a weapon but to whittle, to open letters, etc. Most boys had a knife given to the by the grandfathers when the boy was about 6.

When I go to vote in November I will leave my cane and pocket knife at home. I will carry only handkerchief, small wallet with driver's license, voter registration card, and a few $$. If someone tries to stop me I will be polite but do my best to walk past them. Cane and pocket knife are both weapons -- leave them at home so ICE can't charge me with carrying deadly weapon.

I will not be stopped except by physical force.

[KS Toronado]

4. Was wondering earlier this morning when reading about the USPS plans

If we'd have a Judge step up to the plate and stop this shit, for the Judge.....

[PatSeg]

11. Let's hope it doesn't go to the Supreme Court

Today they seemed to be giving him everything he wants.

[BaronChocula]

15. I've been waiting and watching too

I'm confident the postmaster general didn't make that statement on his own, but I hope he gets what he deserves for being a part of this. Now let's see how far Don Not-so-bright will try to take all this nonsense.

[wolfie001]

8. Out in the open racist maladministration

They're going for it. All in on this bullshit. Hold the line!

[JustAnotherGen]

10. This is good

But we know he's not going to stop. We have to remain vigilant.

[Trueblue1968]

14. Thank you judge

[orangecrush]

17. The courts are holding

[Attilatheblond]

20. Sadly, it seems the Regime is ignoring

Until I see arrests of people working for Trump, I will not be confident about November elections

[kentuck]

25. I'm not so sure they will follow the judge's order...

One of those "radical" judges, appointed by Obama, nonetheless.

[malaise]

19. Important

Rec

[Cha]

21. Yeah, So Fuck you, Stupid PEDO.

GD Nazi shit.

[quakerboy]

22. how would they know whats inside the envelop?

Is usps allowed to decline mail based on perceived speach content?


Also, this is a small part of why biden really messed up not replacing the trumpies at usps. Would still be an issue, but maybe just a little less of one.

[Kablooie]

23. But can't Trump just claim emergency...

And this would be sent to the SCOTUS rocket docket where they give Trump anything he wants without having to explain or justify it?

[Karasu]

24. So is Steiner still claiming the Postal Service won't fulfill their duty, or what?