Federal Appeals Court Denies Trump's Mail Ballot Enforcement Request

A federal appeals court on July 25, 2026, denied the Trump administration's request to enforce parts of an executive order that aimed to tighten mail-in voting rules in 23 states led by Democratic governors. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 against the Department of Justice's (DOJ) request to pause a previous ruling that blocked several provisions of the executive order while the administration appeals. The court noted that the states involved were facing imminent election deadlines and had begun preparing for changes. The executive order, signed by Trump in March, directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of eligible voters and sets new standards for mail-in ballots. The lawsuit was initiated by 23 states and the District of Columbia, which argue that the president exceeded his authority in directing federal agencies to impose new voting requirements. The ruling leaves the injunction in place as the appeal continues.