A federal appeals court has blocked the Trump administration from enforcing an executive order aimed at tightening mail-in voting procedures in 23 states ahead of the November elections. The Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld a lower-court injunction obtained by Democratic-led states, which found key elements of the president’s order unconstitutional. The administration’s request to pause the injunction while appealing was denied in a 2-1 ruling, with judges emphasizing that states must quickly respond to the rapidly approaching deadlines established by the order.

The order, issued by President Trump in March, sought to compel the Department of Homeland Security to compile verified voter eligibility lists to be sent to states and directed the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots exclusively to those on state-approved mail-in ballot lists. It also tasked the Department of Justice with prioritizing investigations against election officials who provided ballots to individuals deemed ineligible. However, the court found Trump lacked authority to mandate DHS’s compilation of voter lists or authorize USPS to implement binding mail-in voting regulations.

The legal challenge came from a coalition of 23 states, including California, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington, which argued the executive order overstepped federal powers and intimidated local officials by threatening criminal prosecution if they failed to comply with incomplete citizenship lists. This ruling follows earlier blocks on similar attempts by the Trump administration to overhaul elections, such as a failed executive order requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration. Democrats have been largely successful in court in resisting these efforts to tighten mail-in voting rules.

Despite the setback, the Justice Department warned it might escalate the case to the U.S. Supreme Court if the appeals court does not rule in Trump’s favor. The executive order and accompanying legislative pushes, such as the SAVE America Act, remain central to President Trump’s efforts to enforce voting restrictions that align with his claims — widely debunked — that mail-in voting in 2020 led to widespread fraud contributing to his defeat. The legal battle highlights ongoing disputes over the administration and regulation of federal elections.