Federal Judge Declines to Block Trump's Executive Order on Voter List and Mail Voting

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has declined to halt President Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to create a federal voter list and restrict mail voting, potentially reshaping election procedures ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. U.S.

District Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, rejected a request from Democrats and civil rights groups who argued that the order likely violates the Constitution by usurping powers reserved for states and Congress. Nichols ruled that it was premature to issue an injunction because the order has not yet been implemented.

He noted that plaintiffs could renew their motions if future actions directly affect them. The legal challenge now moves to Boston, where voting rights groups have filed a separate lawsuit.

Trump issued the order in March after a voting overhaul bill stalled in Congress. The order would direct the U.S.

Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to individuals on a federally compiled list of eligible voters. Election officials have warned that the system is prone to abuse and could cause widespread confusion.

Trump has repeatedly and baselessly claimed that mail voting is plagued by fraud, despite numerous audits and investigations—including those conducted by Republicans—finding no evidence of widespread fraud. This marks Trump’s second executive order targeting elections; an earlier order requiring documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote has been blocked by multiple federal judges.