US supreme court rules Trump can proceed with crackdown on mail-in voting

Donald Trump’s administration can proceed with a nationwide crackdown on mail-in voting, the US supreme court has ruled, approving its emergency appeal.

It remains unclear, however, how his administration can implement the decision in time for the midterm elections in November, and the ruling leaves room for legal challenges.

The US president ordered the government in March to create a “state citizenship list” of eligible voters, requiring that mail-in ballots only be delivered to people on that list.

Trump has repeatedly likened voting by mail to cheating. He has voted by mail himself. His administration has tried to restrict the practice.

Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia sued over Trump’s March order, saying the US constitution gives states and Congress the authority to set election rules, not the president.

A judge in Massachusetts blocked the order for the plaintiff states – nearly half the country – a decision that was upheld by a first US circuit court of appeals panel. This has now been upheld by the supreme court.

The wrangling over how US voters can cast their ballots comes less than 100 days until November’s midterm elections, which will decide the balance of power in the US Senate and House of Representatives.

Democratic voters are deemed more likely to cast their ballots by mail than Republicans: about one in four registered Democrats did so in 2024, according to the States United Democracy Center, alongside one in five registered Republicans.

More details soon …