Trump Urges Supreme Court to Approve Mail‑Ballot Restrictions Again

On Thursday, the Trump administration made a third push to the Supreme Court, requesting a temporary order that would let the U.S. Postal Service exert tighter control over mail‑in ballots for the 2026 midterm elections. The move comes after North Carolina became the first state to start mailing ballots to voters fewer than 60 days before Election Day.

In a brief filing, the Justice Department argued that without this short‑term authority, the postal service could face logistical chaos, potentially delaying or even losing ballots. The request isn’t new – the administration tried a similar strategy last year and again earlier this cycle, each time asking the justices to step in before state election officials could set final deadlines.

Critics, including voting‑rights groups, say the effort is a thinly veiled attempt to suppress turnout, especially among demographics that rely heavily on mail voting. They point out that the Postal Service has already been under fire for service slowdowns and that adding new constraints could only make things worse.

Supporters, on the other hand, claim that the extra oversight will help safeguard the integrity of the vote, ensuring that ballots are processed in a uniform way across the country. They cite concerns about ballot harvesting and fraud, even though concrete evidence of widespread issues remains scarce.

The Supreme Court’s decision – whether to grant a temporary stay or let the lower courts decide – could set a precedent for how mail voting is handled in future elections. As the filing notes, the deadline for the Court’s action is fast‑approaching, leaving little time for debate before states finalize their ballot‑mailing schedules.

Regardless of the outcome, the appeal highlights how contentious mail‑in voting has become a political flashpoint. With the midterms looming, the stakes are high for both parties, and the Court’s next move will likely reverberate through campaigns nationwide.