U.S. judge leaves Trump’s mail-voting order in place for now

On May 28, 2026, a federal judge in Washington declined to block President Donald Trump’s March 31 executive order on federal election rules, leaving it in place for now. The ruling does not decide the policy on the merits; it says the court challenge is premature.

The key reason was timing. The judge said no agency has yet issued the voter-citizenship lists or new Postal Service rules the order contemplates, so the plaintiffs had not shown immediate harm. That means the order remains alive, but the changes are not already in effect.

The White House says the order directs the Department of Homeland Security, working with the Social Security Administration, to compile citizenship lists for states and directs the Postmaster General to begin rulemaking for mail-in and absentee ballots. Those steps would have to happen before the practical rules change.

A separate Boston case is moving on a parallel track, with a hearing set for June 2, 2026. For voters, the immediate takeaway is that mail voting has not been banned nationwide and no new federal ballot rule has taken effect from this ruling.

Sources

• White House fact sheet on federal election eligibility order
• U.S. District Court memorandum opinion by Judge Carl Nichols
• AP News report on the May 28 ruling
• Reuters report republished by KSL