The Trump administration has requested the Supreme Court to allow an executive order from former President Donald Trump that could significantly alter mail-in voting before the upcoming midterm elections. The Justice Department seeks to pause lower court rulings that have blocked these changes in nearly half the country. This request follows Trump’s ongoing efforts to question election legitimacy, and it may be one of several voting-related issues the court faces before the elections. Trump’s order mandates the creation of a “state citizenship list” to ensure mail ballots are sent only to eligible voters. Democratic officials from 23 states and the District of Columbia have sued, arguing that election rules are the domain of states and Congress, not the president. A Massachusetts judge blocked the order, and the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this decision. The order also involves federal agencies providing citizenship lists to states and requires secure ballot envelopes with tracking barcodes. The appeal claims the order offers general guidance rather than dictating state election procedures. Solicitor General D. John Sauer has urged the Supreme Court to act swiftly, as new policies need to be in place by August for the November elections. Trump has long criticized mail-in voting, blaming it for his 2020 election loss and alleging it leads to fraud, despite using it himself.
QUESTION: How might changes to mail-in voting impact voter participation and trust in the electoral process?
DOJ is urging Supreme Court to allow Trump’s order targeting mail-in voting ahead of midterms
