Supreme Court blocks Trump-linked plan to divert absentee ballots
The Supreme Court halted a scheme promoted by Donald Trump to redirect mailed ballots to the dead-letter office, preserving voters’ ability to have early-mailed ballots counted.
Donald Trump’s attempt to manipulate absentee voting by directing mail ballots to the dead-letter office was effectively ended when the Supreme Court ruled the plan lacked legal basis. The dispute began after Trump ordered the Department of Homeland Security to create a list of eligible mail-in voters, a move blocked by a Boston federal judge who cited the Constitution’s allocation of election authority to Congress and the states.
Subsequent courts in Washington reached similar conclusions, and the high court’s majority now confirms that the Postal Service has no legitimate role in running elections. Although justices Alito, Thomas and Kavanaugh wrote separate opinions hinting at possible presidential authority, the court’s decision underscores institutional weakness that has allowed such challenges. Meanwhile, the Justice Department and Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin have pursued investigations into voting machines and voter rolls, actions critics say aim to undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Why it matters
The decision safeguards mail-in voting for the midterms and checks presidential attempts to alter election procedures.
How the sides frame it
MODERATE AGREEMENTLeft-leaning coverage zeroes in on the specific Trump-linked absentee-ballot scheme as a manipulative power grab, while centrist coverage frames the decision as part of a broader constitutional test of presidential authority.
LEFT
Frames the plan as a Trump-driven attempt to manipulate absentee voting and highlights institutional weakness.
CENTER
Frames the ruling as a pivotal constitutional test of how far a president can extend his power.
The left emphasises
- Trump’s attempt to manipulate absentee voting
- the plan lacked legal basis
- institutional weakness that allowed such actions
How this story developed
- Aug 27 Rep. Jake Auchincloss Discusses Congressional Reform and Supreme Court Changes
- Sep 4 The court’s decision upheld the citizen‑initiated referendum and blocked the new map.
- Sep 5 Judge extended the preliminary injunction blocking the rule.
- Sep 5 Judge Talwani issued a new order on Friday extending the injunction.
- Sep 6 Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar is refusing federal demands for voter data, while Republican rival Jim Marchant persists in promoting unfounded fraud allegations.
- Sep 6 Administration filed a third petition to the Supreme Court seeking to overturn the injunction.
- Sep 8 Missouri Supreme Court issued a unanimous ruling requiring a statewide referendum before the GOP‑crafted map can be used.
- Sep 9 Supreme Court issued a 6‑3 stay of the district‑court injunction.
- Sep 10 Federal judge rejected Secretary of State Denny Hoskins' request to block the contempt proceeding.
- Sep 10 First Circuit Court of Appeals denied the administration’s request to lift the injunction, leaving the rule blocked through the November elections.
- Sep 11 U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump-backed congressional map, requiring use of the 2022 districts.
- Sep 14 A federal judge issued an injunction blocking the USPS mail‑ballot rule.
- Sep 14 Republican candidates have also entered secretary of state races in Arizona and Wisconsin.
- Sep 15 Supreme Court rejected the administration’s request to stay the injunction.
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