The U.S. Supreme Court lifted a federal injunction blocking major portions of President Trump's Executive Order on mail ballots in a 6-3 decision along party lines, clearing the way for federal implementation in 23 states and the District of Columbia.
The decision allows the Department of Homeland Security to proceed with providing information to states regarding voter eligibility and lifts a ban preventing the U.S. Postal Service from finalizing rulemaking to implement the executive order. The Postal Service published a final rule on August 20 related to Executive Order 14399, set to take effect on August 26, according to Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
However, a separate court ruling on August 11 by the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts enjoining the Postal Service rulemaking nationwide remains in effect.
The decision also allows the Department of Justice to follow the President's directive to prioritize prosecution of election officials who send ballots to individuals not on a Department of Homeland Security-provided eligibility list. Executive Order 14399 is the second executive order on election administration issued during Trump's second term; his first order sought changes to voter registration requirements and has been largely blocked by courts.