A federal judge has temporarily stopped the Trump administration from enforcing an executive order that would restrict postal delivery of mail-in ballots, preserving existing arrangements shortly before midterm ballots are due to be sent. The decision matters because nearly a third of US voters cast ballots by post, and states say they cannot overhaul ballot systems, staff training and voter-data processes in time.

US District Judge Indira Talwani imposed a 14-day pause ahead of a 3 September hearing, after the Supreme Court had overturned an earlier injunction on procedural grounds rather than deciding whether the order was lawful. The Postal Service’s new rule requires states to provide voter lists and use specified envelope formats; Democratic-led states and voting-rights groups argue that election rules are principally for states and Congress. The dispute may return to the Supreme Court, while a 2025 Brookings Institution report cited mail-voting fraud at about four cases per 10 million ballots cast.