Federal judge refuses to block Trump order to create federal voter list and limit mail voting

[BumRushDaShow]

Source: AP

Updated 7:57 AM EDT, May 28, 2026


A federal judge has declined to halt President Donald Trump's executive order creating a federal voter list and limiting mail voting, clearing the way for potential sweeping changes in how American elections are run shortly before this year's midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, D.C., a Trump appointee, late Wednesday rejected the request by Democrats and civil rights groups who had argued that Trump's order would likely be found unconstitutional because the states and Congress, not the president, have the power to set election rules. Nichols agreed with the Trump administration's contention it was too early to issue the order because it has yet to be implemented.

"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," Nichols wrote. "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."

The legal battle against the provision now shifts to Boston, where voting rights groups have a separate lawsuit against the executive order in federal court.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-elections-mail-voting-executive-order-9474fae41161dc5954295ae1370bcb88

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Link to ORDERS (PDFs)

https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053.143.0_1.pdf
https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053/gov.uscourts.dcd.291053.144.0.pdf

REFERENCES

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642607

RELATED (other suits)

https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143642772
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143643615
https://www.democraticunderground.com/10143644835