Wisconsin Election Commission Blocks Trump Mail-In Ballot Order

The Wisconsin Elections Commission has instructed local election clerks to ignore a recent executive order from President Donald Trump that would require the United States Postal Service to cross-check mail-in ballots against a Department of Homeland Security citizenship list. Although the Supreme Court of the United States initially allowed the order to proceed, a federal judge has since issued a temporary restraining order blocking the restrictions and preserving the status quo.

Commission Chair Don Millis stated that compliance with the order is currently impossible because the required USPS data portal does not exist and no training has been provided to officials. Millis argued that the restrictions would disproportionately disadvantage Republican voters, as Democratic strongholds like Milwaukee and Dane counties offer more ballot return alternatives, such as drop boxes and extended clerk hours, compared to Republican-leaning areas.

Election officials believe it is unlikely that courts will reinstate the rule before the November election, citing the judicial tendency to avoid altering voting procedures so close to an election date. For now, the post office will continue delivering ballots between clerks and voters without the citizenship cross-check.