BOSTON — A federal judge has blocked key parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order that sought to create a nationwide list of eligible citizen voters and impose new restrictions on mail-in voting, ruling that the administration exceeded presidential authority over election procedures.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani of Massachusetts halted enforcement of provisions that directed federal agencies to compile voter eligibility information and instructed the U.S. Postal Service to take steps that would have limited delivery of mail ballots to voters included on federally approved lists. The ruling came after nearly two dozen states and the District of Columbia challenged the order, arguing that election administration powers are reserved primarily for states and Congress.
Talwani ruled that the challenged provisions were unconstitutional and could not be implemented while the legal dispute continues, according to court documents cited by news organizations. The decision applies during the 2026 midterm election cycle.
Trump issued the executive order in March as part of a broader effort by his administration to change federal election oversight. The order directed the Department of Homeland Security to work toward creating state-by-state citizenship lists of eligible voters and sought changes affecting mail ballot procedures through federal agencies.
The states that sued argued the order unlawfully shifted election responsibilities from state governments to the federal executive branch. They also argued that relying on federal databases to determine voter eligibility could create errors affecting eligible voters.
The Trump administration defended the order as a measure intended to protect election integrity. Officials have argued that stronger verification procedures are necessary to ensure that only eligible citizens participate in elections. The administration has indicated it may appeal the ruling.
The ruling is part of a series of legal challenges involving Trump administration actions on voting rules. Earlier in June, another federal judge blocked a separate Trump election-related order that sought to require documentary proof of citizenship for voter registration, ruling that the president lacked authority to impose the requirement through executive action.
The case adds to ongoing disputes over the balance of power between federal authorities and states in managing elections ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. The administration’s next step is expected to come through further legal proceedings, including a possible appeal.
