A federal judge has halted the Trump administration’s effort to enforce new mail-in voting regulations issued through an executive order, ruling that the changes cannot be implemented while legal challenges proceed.
The order, aimed at altering how mail-in ballots are processed or regulated, was put on hold after several states and voting rights groups filed lawsuits arguing the administration lacked authority to impose such rules without congressional approval.
In issuing the injunction, the judge determined that plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of their claims and that allowing the rule to take effect could cause confusion and disrupt election administration ahead of upcoming voting periods.
As a result of the decision, current mail-in voting procedures remain in place under existing federal and state law. Both sides of the case are preparing further legal briefs as the matter moves through the courts, with significant implications for the role of executive power in shaping election policy.