Federal court blocks Trump mail-voting order: Washington, IL voters’ guide

On June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a Memorandum & Order declaring Sections 2 and 3 of President Donald Trump’s mail-voting executive order legally void. The judge also enjoined federal officials from implementing those sections for the November 3, 2026 federal election (and any earlier federal election) in the case’s “Plaintiff States,” including Illinois.

What the blocked executive order tried to do

Based on the executive order provisions described in the court’s ruling, the plan centered on:

• Federal “Confirmed Citizen Lists” tied to citizen and residency information, which the order would have used as a basis for federal enforcement decisions.
• USPS rulemaking and mail-ballot transmission limits—including directing USPS to compile lists and restricting transmission of mail-in/absentee ballots completed by people who aren’t on USPS’s lists.

What the ruling does for Illinois (including Washington, IL)

The key point for Washington, Illinois residents: because the court declared Sections 2 and 3 void and stopped their implementation in the Plaintiff States (which include Illinois), the federal-list/USPS approach described in those sections should be treated as halted for Illinois for the covered federal-election window (Nov. 3, 2026, and earlier).

What this doesn’t automatically change: the injunction is aimed at specific federal executive-order provisions (Sections 2 and 3). It does not rewrite how Illinois determines voter eligibility or how Illinois runs mail voting under Illinois procedures; it blocks the federal provisions the court ruled unlawful and stopped.

What voters and local election officials should do now

• For voters: keep following Illinois election guidance for mail-ballot registration, requesting ballots, and returning them.
• For local election officials: align planning with the injunction—treat the enjoined federal-list/USPS provisions as not something to plan around for the covered federal election(s).
• Watch for updates: if Illinois election officials or federal agencies issue operational guidance, readers should expect it to be consistent with what the court blocked.

What to watch next

This is a federal district court ruling in an ongoing case, so additional filings and further court activity are possible. For Washington residents, the practical baseline remains the June 25, 2026 order stopping the executive order’s Sections 2 and 3 for Illinois in the November 3, 2026 federal election cycle.

Sources

• Associated Press — Federal judge halts Trump election executive order seeking federal voter list (June 25, 2026 coverage)
• CBS News — Judge blocks Trump mail-in voting executive order (June 25, 2026)
• U.S. District Court (D. Mass.) — State of California et al. v. Trump et al., Filing 191: Memorandum & Order (June 25, 2026) (Talwani)