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A Massachusetts federal judge issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday that prevents the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing portions of President Donald Trump’s executive order designed to tighten mail-in voting procedures before the November 2026 midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani’s order specifically blocks implementation of Section 3 of Executive Order 14399, which would have restricted USPS transmission of absentee and mail-in ballots. The ruling applies to the 2026 midterms and any earlier federal elections.
Trump signed the executive order in March as part of what the administration framed as an election integrity initiative. The directive required the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of eligible U.S. voters for distribution to states, instructed USPS to establish new mail-ballot standards, and tasked the Department of Justice with investigating state and local election officials who allegedly issued federal ballots to ineligible voters. Trump has repeatedly characterized mail-in voting as vulnerable to fraud, though election officials and studies have found it secure.
Judge Talwani’s decision mirrors an earlier June ruling in which she blocked multiple provisions of the same executive order. A federal appeals court upheld that injunction on July 25 in a 2-1 decision, rejecting the Trump administration’s request to pause enforcement while the legal challenge continues. The case was brought by California, Massachusetts, Nevada and Washington, which argued that states hold constitutional authority over federal election administration and that Trump exceeded his authority.
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts praised the ruling, stating it protects voting rights for citizens who depend on mail ballots. The Trump administration is expected to appeal Tuesday’s decision to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston and has indicated it may seek emergency intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court if unsuccessful. Talwani ordered plaintiff organizations to post a $100 bond by August 18.
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