Federal judge declines to block order restricting mail-in voting

May 28 (UPI) -- A federal judge has declined, for now, to block an executive order restricting who can receive mail ballots.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols issued the ruling that will keep the March executive order in place, denying a request by the Democratic National Committee and voting rights groups to issue a preliminary injunction to block the order as they challenge it in court.

"The Court recognizes that the Postal Service may ultimately issue a final rule that directly affects Plaintiffs or their members, or that the Government may develop State Citizenship Lists that omit specific individuals due to particularized flaws. Plaintiffs may, of course, renew their motions if and when those future actions occur. Until then, however, Plaintiffs cannot show that preliminary injunctive relief is warranted," Nichols wrote.

The case brought by the DNC and the groups will continue as Democratic lawmakers, civil rights groups and several states and the District of Columbia have also filed lawsuits against the executive order.

They argue that Article I of the U.S. Constitution says the states have the power to make the rules for federal elections, not the president. They also say that giving USPS the power to make rules about the election oversteps the agency's authority.

The executive order, signed in March, directs the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration to create lists of adult U.S. citizens in each state and send them to state election officials. It also directs the U.S. Postal Service to make lists of eligible voters and only deliver ballots to people on the lists.

A 2025 executive order on mail-in voting was blocked by the courts.

In March, President Donald Trump voted by mail in Florida. He said he created the order to prevent illegal voting by noncitizens in federal elections.

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This story was originally published May 28, 2026 at 10:38 AM.