Second Federal Judge Freezes Trump Mail-Ballot Order Ahead of Midterms

A second nationwide pause

A second federal judge has frozen President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail-in ballots. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington ordered the Postal Service late Sunday not to implement the new rules before the midterms.

Nichols, a Trump nominee, had earlier declined to halt the order as premature. In the injunction he wrote that many voters could lose the ability to cast a ballot if the policy took effect now.

Why election offices objected

State officials say they cannot rebuild mail systems to match the new requirements before November. North Carolina has already begun sending ballots. A prior injunction from another judge is already on an appellate path.

What happens next

Until a higher court says otherwise, the order stays on hold and counties will run the election under existing state law.