Second Federal Judge Blocks Trump Order Limiting Mail-In Ballots

A second injunction, days apart

A second federal judge has frozen President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail-in balloting, adding another obstacle as the Supreme Court prepares to hear related election-mail disputes. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, D.C., ordered late Sunday that the U.S. Postal Service not implement the new restrictions.

Nichols, a Trump nominee, had earlier declined to halt the order as premature. In granting a preliminary injunction he wrote that it is now clear many voters could lose the ability to cast a ballot if the policy takes effect before November.

What the administration wanted

The White House has asked courts, including the Supreme Court, to tighten rules around mail ballots and Postal Service handling of election mail. State officials have said they could not rebuild systems to match the new requirements before Election Day.

A separate order from another judge is already on an appellate path. The two rulings together leave the executive order on hold while higher courts decide how far the president may go in setting national ballot rules.

Why the calendar is the real pressure

North Carolina has already begun sending midterm mail ballots. Election administrators argue that late federal changes create two classes of voters. The next word that matters will come from the Supreme Court.