Trump mail ballot order Supreme Court appeal

The Trump administration asked the U.S. Supreme Court to allow enforcement of President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections. The order, signed in March, directs federal agencies to create a 'state citizenship list' of eligible voters and requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to those on the list. Democratic officials from 23 states and the United States — Washington, D.C. sued, arguing the order is unconstitutional because states and Congress, not the president, control election rules. A federal judge in United States — Massachusetts State Police blocked the order, and the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld that ruling. The administration's emergency appeal to the Supreme Court argues the lawsuit is premature because agencies are still deliberating implementation. The Supreme Court ordered responses by August 3. Separately, a D.C. Circuit panel declined to block the order in a different case, citing prematurity. The Postal Service has proposed rules to implement the order, and postal workers' union members are reportedly preparing an online portal. The order is part of Trump's broader push to restrict mail voting, which he has falsely claimed is rife with fraud. Courts have repeatedly blocked his election-related orders.