Voting Rights Groups File Renewed Request for Preliminary Injunction to Block Executive Order Restricting Mail-in Ballots

Read a PDF of our statement here.

Motion seeks to stop U.S. Postal Service from imposing rules that will disenfranchise American citizens and throw elections into chaos

BOSTON - A coalition of nonpartisan voting rights groups renewed their urgent request for a preliminary injunction to block the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) from implementing portions of President Trump's 2026 executive order restricting mail-in voting. Their motion argues that the executive order is unconstitutional, unlawful, and harmful to voters and the organizations that serve them.

The motion filed late yesterday is the second time the groups have asked the U.S. District Court in Massachusetts for a preliminary injunction. Their first request was denied earlier this month on the grounds that USPS was already barred from carrying out the executive order due to a preliminary injunction issued in separate litigation in the District of Columbia. However, the District of Massachusetts court expressly said the groups could refile their request for relief if the injunction in the D.C. case was stayed. On July 17, the Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit stayed that injunction, allowing USPS to move forward in implementing President Trump's order in some states.

The renewed filing from the nonpartisan groups explains that the executive order is causing significant and ongoing harm to their organizations as they work to help eligible voters, including their members, prepare to cast ballots in the November election. Among other provisions, the executive order directs USPS to refuse to transmit certain voters' ballots.

The motion was filed by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the League of Women Voters, Association of Americans Resident Overseas (AARO), U.S. Vote Foundation, OCA - Asian Pacific American Advocates (OCA), and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

They are represented by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), ACLU of Massachusetts, Brennan Center for Justice, Legal Defense Fund (LDF), Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC (Advancing Justice - AAJC), and LatinoJustice PRLDEF.

The plaintiffs and their legal counsel issued the following statement:

"The nonpartisan organizations that filed this challenge work in every state to ensure eligible voters can exercise their rights and responsibilities as U.S. citizens. Millions of those voters rely on mail ballots, including people with disabilities, students, people in rural areas, military service members, Americans living overseas, and the elderly. The threat of the U.S. Postal Service interfering with mail ballots-in violation of its Congressionally established role as a neutral mail carrier-is disrupting vital voting rights work and threatens to disenfranchise untold numbers of American citizens.

"The executive order is plainly unconstitutional and unlawful; it is yet another attempt by the president to unlawfully take control of elections from the states, deter eligible voters from casting ballots, and sow chaos as the November midterms approach. We're renewing our urgent request for a preliminary injunction to protect the right to vote, uphold the rule of law, and enable voters and voting rights organizations to continue preparing for the midterms with full access to mail voting."

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