coalition of nearly two dozen states

A federal judge halted President Donald Trump’s executive order aiming to create a federal voter list and restrict mail ballot distribution. The judge ruled the order unconstitutional, violating the separation of powers, and the decision applies to the 2026 midterm election cycle.

A federal judge halted President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at creating a federal voter list and restricting mail ballots, ruling it unconstitutional for violating separation of powers. The order, which would have directed the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to those on the list, was challenged by a coalition of states and blocked for the 2026 midterm elections. The judge denied the administration’s motion to dismiss the lawsuits, citing the urgency of the election cycle.