Supreme Court Allows Trump Mail-Voting Order to Proceed, Legal Fight Continues

On August 24-25, 2026, the U.S. Supreme Court voted 6-3 along ideological lines to lift an injunction issued by a federal judge in Massachusetts in June that had blocked parts of President Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting. The order seeks to expand federal control over aspects of mail voting ahead of the November midterm elections, an area states have traditionally overseen. Multiple outlets reported the injunction had applied in 23 states. The Court's order was preliminary and did not decide the underlying legality of Trump's executive order, leaving the broader legal fight ongoing. A second injunction remains in place, and U.S. Postal Service work related to the order remains blocked nationwide, meaning the practical effect of the ruling is limited for now. California Governor Gavin Newsom announced the state's intent to sue the Trump administration again over the order, and California lawmakers are advancing legislation, including AB 282 and SB 259, that would create new felony penalties—reported variously as up to three or four years in prison—for interfering with ballots, election records, or certified voting technology before results are certified. As of the reporting, it remains unresolved whether the Trump administration will be able to implement the order's provisions before the November midterms, given the remaining injunction and ongoing litigation. The discrepancy between the reported three-year and four-year felony penalties in the California legislation has not been reconciled across sources. Further court proceedings and the fate of California's threatened lawsuit remain pending outcomes.