A federal judge in Massachusetts has halted the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from enforcing a section of President Donald Trump’s executive order that aimed to tighten mail-in voting rules ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction that prevents the USPS from acting on Section 3 of Executive Order 14399 for the upcoming November 3 midterm elections, or any earlier federal election.
This decision stops USPS from denying the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots under the contested section. It also blocks related rulemaking for the November elections. However, the injunction does not restrict the federal government from offering nonbinding USPS guidance on ballot-mail envelopes.
“Cheating on mail-in voting is legendary. It’s horrible. Democrats want to use it for cheating,” Trump stated.
Judge Talwani’s ruling follows her consideration of a renewed request for an injunction from the plaintiffs in a hearing held earlier. The Trump administration plans to challenge this decision in the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston.
President Trump had introduced the executive order in March as part of his agenda to ensure election integrity. The order directed the Department of Homeland Security to compile lists of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote and share them with states. USPS was instructed to establish new standards for mail-in ballots, while the Department of Justice was tasked with focusing on investigating election officials who issue federal ballots to individuals considered ineligible to vote.
This court ruling comes shortly after the 1st Circuit refused the administration’s request to enforce other parts of Trump’s executive order. The appeals court decision on July 25 was against an attempt to pause a June ruling blocking several aspects of the order in 23 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia. Led by states like California, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington, the lawsuit argued that the Constitution assigns primary responsibility for federal elections to states and asserted that Trump overstepped his authority by directing federal agencies to impose new voting requirements.
Previously, Judge Talwani also blocked several provisions of the executive order in June, agreeing that they likely exceeded presidential authority. The 1st Circuit maintained that injunction despite the administration’s ongoing appeal. The Department of Justice had indicated a potential request for emergency relief from the U.S. Supreme Court if necessary.
The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts expressed support for the judge’s decision, emphasizing its importance in safeguarding voting rights for those who depend on mail-in voting. “The League of Women Voters of Massachusetts commends the court for upholding one of our most sacred constitutional rights: the right to vote,” a representative stated.
The White House, Department of Justice, and USPS have not yet commented on the ruling. Meanwhile, Talwani instructed the plaintiff organizations to post a nominal bond of $100 by August 18.