Judge blocks Postal Service proposal to restrict mail-in voting under Trump’s order : NPR
NPR Topics: Politics — 2026-06-25 10:00:00 — www.npr.org
President Trump’s Order on Mail-In Voting Faces Legal and Factual Challenges
President Trump has issued an executive order aimed at restricting voting by mail, directing the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to play a central role in determining who can receive mail-in ballots. The order requires the USPS to use information from state election officials to create lists of approved absentee voters. Under this proposal, if a state refuses to turn over its absentee voter list to the federal government, the Postal Service would not deliver ballots for that state.
Legal Pushback and Constitutional Concerns
Trump’s order has triggered five lawsuits and is under review by federal courts. Nearly two dozen states, voting rights groups, and Democratic lawmakers argue that the Constitution gives the power to set federal election rules to state legislatures and Congress—not the president. Critics also point out that there is no federal law authorizing the Postal Service to create voter databases, ballot verification systems, or mandatory standards for mail-in voting.
Fact-Checking Trump’s Claims
The president has said he issued the order to prevent illegal voting by non-U.S. citizens in federal elections. However, the excerpt notes that “many reviews have shown [illegal voting by non-citizens] to be incredibly rare.” This directly challenges the factual basis for Trump’s stated rationale.
Contradictions and Context
Despite his efforts to restrict mail-in voting, Trump himself voted by mail in Florida in March. This contradiction highlights the gap between his personal actions and his public statements about the risks of mail-in voting.
Conclusion
President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting is facing significant legal scrutiny and factual challenges. While he claims the order is necessary to prevent illegal voting, available evidence suggests that such cases are extremely rare. The ongoing court battles will determine whether the president’s attempt to reshape mail-in voting rules through the USPS will stand, but the controversy underscores ongoing disputes over voting rights and election integrity.