Overview
- The Supreme Court denied the Trump administration's emergency request on Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2026, leaving a federal injunction in place that prevents new USPS rules on absentee ballots from taking effect immediately.
- The justices said the government had not shown an urgent need for relief and was unlikely to win on the merits when the case is decided after full briefing and argument.
- A federal judge in Boston extended a suspension of the USPS rules on Sept. 4 and a federal appeals court warned that sudden changes could cause “chaos” and widespread disenfranchisement if applied before the midterms.
- The contested rules trace to President Trump's March 31 decree that ordered a federal voter list and limited Postal Service delivery of absentee ballots, a plan challenged by Democratic states and voting rights groups.
- Because roughly one-third of voters used mail ballots in 2024 and some states have already begun mailing ballots, the court's decision preserves current procedures for voters and local election officials while litigation continues.