Federal judge refuses to block Trump order to create federal voter list and limit mail voting

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 7:57 AM EDT, May 28, 2026


A federal judge has declined to halt President Donald Trump's executive order creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year's midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, D.C., a Trump appointee, late Wednesday rejected the request by Democrats and civil rights groups who had argued that Trump's order would likely be found unconstitutional because the states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules. Nichols agreed with the Trump administration's contention it was too early to issue the order because it has yet to be implemented.

"The Court recognizes that the Postal Service may ultimately issue a final rule that directly affects Plaintiffs or their members, or that the Government may develop State Citizenship Lists that omit specific individuals due to particularized flaws," Nichols wrote. "Plaintiffs may, of course, renew their motions if and when those future actions occur. Until then, however, Plaintiffs cannot show that preliminary injunctive relief is warranted."

The legal battle against the provision now shifts to Boston, where voting rights groups have a separate lawsuit against the executive order in federal court.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-mail-voting-executive-order-9474fae41161dc5954295ae1370bcb88

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Link to ORDERS (PDFs)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053.143.0_1.pdf
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053.144.0.pdf

REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642607

RELATED (other suits)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642772
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143643615
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143644835

[Chasstev365]

1. If states control their own elections, how is this possible?

[GiqueCee]

2. The legalese...

... may paint a thin patina of dignity and decorum on this decision, but it's still lipstick on a pig. The judge is a Trump appointee, so the fix was in before he even read the damned request.
It's beginning to look like the only way to eradicate the malign influence of the worst president in American history will be to remove and disbar every ass-kissing judge he appointed if their rulings are tainted by subservience to He Whose Very Name Smells Like A Moose Fart.

[CousinIT]

3. I hope that USPS would say 'no' and refuse to have any part of it. n/t

[Fiendish Thingy]

4. The EO is unenforceable

The states can ignore it, as they have ignored all the other election related EO’s.

[BumRushDaShow]

5. One of the problems is the directive to the USPS to intervene and intercept mail ballots

and that goes beyond the states but would impact them. Thus a need for a legal permanent injunction.

[Dr. T]

7. I get around that by hand delivering my

absentee ballot to my local town hall.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. There are a 8 states where ALL voting is by mail

Last edited Thu May 28, 2026, 11:54 AM - Edit history (1)

All-mail voting

(California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington)

ETA FOR CA -

California 2021[4] By mail or by returning it to a polling place, county elections office, or designated drop box.[5] Yes, at designated voter centers.[6]

The problem is if the USPS INTERCEPTS ballots being sent by a state TO voters who the deem "illegal" because they are not on a MAGat "list".

[Unwind Your Mind]

11. No that's not right about California

Yes, everyone receives their ballot in the mail but we still have polls open and drop off options. Voters can also receive a ballot at the polling place if something happens to theirs.

I take ours to a drop box in front of the library

[BumRushDaShow]

13. Those states mentioned all have some "in-person" too

The link I included in my post lists all the caveats and options for each of those states. They are a polar opposite of states with no (non-absentee voting).

(ETA see update above - I meant to edit this one with the additional info but landed there instead )

[BettyBlueDot]

10. what if PO turns on us?

I do the same. But what if Po stops delivering the ballot to my mailbox.

[Dr. T]

12. In Wisconsin, we've got a website that allows us to

to track the ballot from the time we request it until it is sent. If the ballot was sent but never received, I'd start with the town clerk who sent it and ask for a replacement.

[liberalgunwilltravel]

6. Appeal immediately

This won’t survive appellate review.

[groundloop]

8. So this "judge" thinks it's ok for one man to alter how we vote in a way that benefits that individual.

Somehow I can't believe this is what was intended by the framers of the Constitution.

[Deuxcents]

14. This judge is auditioning for consideration to the Supreme Court

[Polybius]

15. "Nominated by Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate in 2019"

Is anyone shocked?

[LymphocyteLover]

16. So depressing. I sure hope no Dems voted to confirm this MAGAT judge