The Supreme Court of the United States had ruled in June that late mail-in ballots can be counted
The DOJ petitioned the Supreme Court for an emergency ruling that would allow the administration to move forward with an executive order aimed at limiting mail-in voting.
Trump’s March order directs federal agencies to create a “state citizenship list” and instructs the US Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to individuals on that list.
Around 23 states and the District of Columbia have sued to block the order, with Democrats warning Trump’s order could be abused and cause chaos.
Trump has repeatedly claimed that mail-in voting is vulnerable to fraud. However, federal data shows that about 30% of all ballots in the 2024 presidential election were cast by mail.
A 2025 Brookings Institution study identified only about four cases of fraud per 10 million mail ballots cast.
The administration wants a quick decision, noting that any changes would need to be implemented by August to impact November’s election.
SCOTUS had ruled in June that late mail-in ballots arriving up to five days after Election Day can be counted if postmarked beforehand.