Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow mail-in voting order before midterms

The Trump administration is urging the Supreme Court to permit an executive order that could significantly alter mail-in voting procedures. This emergency appeal follows a recent decision by an appeals court that upheld a ruling blocking the president's order in nearly half the country, just ahead of the November midterm elections.

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The emergency appeal comes after an appeals court upheld a ruling blocking the president's order in nearly half the country ahead of November's midterm elections.

The Justice Department is asking the high court to allow the proposed changes to take effect while legal challenges continue. President Trump's March order directed federal agencies to compile a "state citizenship list" of eligible voters and ensure mail ballots are sent only to individuals on this list. However, Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia have filed lawsuits, asserting that election rules fall under the authority of states and Congress, not the president.

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Trump ordered the government in March to create a "state citizenship list" of eligible voters and deliver mail ballots only to people on that list.

Attorneys for the plaintiffs have warned that Trump's proposed changes are susceptible to manipulation and could lead to widespread chaos. A federal judge in Massachusetts initially blocked the order for the plaintiff states, a decision subsequently upheld by a panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals over the weekend. The executive order's stated goal is to prevent non-U.S. citizens from voting, though studies indicate noncitizen voting is rare and carries severe penalties, including deportation.

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Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia sued, saying the Constitution gives states and Congress the authority to set election rules, not the president.