NewsWPLG Local 10 – PoliticsSeptember 14, 2026Miami-Dade County
Supreme Court Rejects Trump Bid to Restrict Mail Ballots for Midterms
Photo: WPLG Local 10 – Politics
The Supreme Court rejected a bid by the Trump administration to restrict mail ballots for the midterm elections, allowing states to continue using existing mail-in voting processes. The brief order leaves lower court blocks in place, though Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented.
Read the full story at WPLG Local 10 – PoliticsWhy It Matters
The decision affects voters in states utilizing mail-in voting, allowing nearly one-third of the country to vote by mail under current state rules without immediate federal restrictions.
Key Facts
- The Supreme Court rejected the Trump administration's request to restrict mail ballots for the midterm elections.
- Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented from the brief order.
- Justice Brett Kavanaugh agreed restrictions should not go into effect for the midterms but indicated he might rule in favor of the administration later.
- Nearly one-third of the country votes by mail.
- States including Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin began sending mail ballots to voters while the legal challenge was ongoing.
- The Trump administration plan required states to adopt a uniform envelope style and submit eligible voter lists to an online portal.
- A whistleblower report indicated the postal system requirements could prevent millions of mail ballots from being sent due to portal issues and barcode errors.
- Democratic state officials and voting rights groups challenged the restrictions in court.
- Lower courts previously blocked Trump's plan, including issuing a preliminary injunction.
Who's Mentioned
locationNorth Carolina“State that began sending mail ballots to voters”PersonBrett Kavanaugh“Supreme Court Justice who agreed restrictions should not go into effect for midt”PersonClarence Thomas“Supreme Court Justice who publicly dissented”PersonSamuel Alito“Supreme Court Justice who publicly dissented”PersonJoe Biden“Democrat who won the 2020 election”locationWisconsin“State that began sending mail ballots to voters”OrganizationPostal Service“Federal agency with authority over mail handling”PersonDonald Trump“President seeking to restrict mail ballots”OrganizationSupreme Court“Issued the order rejecting the mail ballot restrictions”locationAlabama“State that began sending mail ballots to voters”