Judge Emmet Sullivan Blocks Trump Mail-In Ballot Restrictions Nationwide

U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan issued a nationwide block on the United States Postal Service's attempt to implement mail-in voting restrictions. The measures stemmed from a March 2026 executive order by Donald Trump, which required states to provide certified voter lists and utilize standardized barcodes before the agency would deliver ballots. Judge Sullivan ruled that these requirements violate a 2021 settlement agreement between the USPS and the NAACP, which mandates the prioritization and timely delivery of election mail through 2028.

This ruling expands previous legal setbacks for the administration. On June 25, Judge Indira Talwani blocked the same executive order for nearly 25 Democratic-led states, concluding that the president exceeded his authority over state-run election procedures. Judge Sullivan further characterized the USPS proposal as being designed to exert federal control over mail-in voting. In response, the White House defended the order as a lawful means to protect election integrity.

Concurrent with these district court battles, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled on June 29 in Watson v. RNC to uphold state grace periods for mail-in ballots. In an opinion penned by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, a cross-ideological majority determined that states may legally count ballots postmarked by Election Day even if received later, preserving voting rights for active-duty military and overseas citizens. This decision contradicts the policy preferences of the Trump administration ahead of the November 3 midterm elections.