The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on July 27, 2026, to revive parts of an executive order affecting mail voting before the midterm elections. The order would direct the Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only for voters appearing on a federal citizenship list and could withhold certain federal funds from states that do not follow related requirements. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia challenged the order, and lower courts blocked major portions of it. The dispute combines election security, ballot access, federalism, and the president’s control over executive agencies. It also raises the institutional question of whether nationwide voting rules should come from Congress, state legislatures, federal agencies, or presidential directives. Elections need enforceable rules, but a president should not be able to redesign voting procedures through agencies just before ballots are cast. Durable rules should come from legislation, transparent administration, and enough lead time for voters and election officials to adapt.
Where should presidential authority end when federal agencies handle mail ballots?