Overview
- U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani blocked major sections of the March executive order on Thursday, finding the president exceeded his authority and that the order would usurp state power over elections.
- The order had asked DHS to compile citizenship-based lists for each state and directed USPS to deliver mail ballots only to names on state-approved lists, a scheme Talwani said lacked statutory or constitutional backing.
- Postmaster General David Steiner told Congress on June 24 that under a proposed USPS rule the agency would not deliver mail ballots to states that refuse to provide voter manifests, a stance that intensified legal and political pushback.
- A coalition of about 22 states, the District of Columbia and voting‑rights groups sued to block the order, arguing it risks voter disenfranchisement, imposes heavy costs on election officials and relies on federal databases known to produce false positives.
- The USPS rule remains published for comment but cannot be put into effect for the 2026 midterms while Talwani’s injunction and parallel lawsuits play out and the administration prepares to appeal.