NAACP Celebrates Federal Court Ruling Striking Down Executive Order Threatening Mail-In Ballots

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 25, 2026

Contact: Chyna Fields, [email protected]

WASHINGTON   - Today, the NAACP issued the following statement celebrating a monumental victory for American democracy after a U.S. District Judge blocked the Trump administration from enforcing its Executive Order which sought to create a federal voter surveillance registry and manipulate the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) into restricting the delivery of mail-in ballots ahead of the November midterms.

The court ruled that the administration's attempt to establish federal "Confirmed Citizen Lists" through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and weaponize the USPS as an election gatekeeper was "legally void," explicitly violating the separation of powers and overstepping Article II executive authority.

Derrick Johnson, NAACP President & CEO, issued the following statement:

"Donald Trump's desperate attempt to hijack the United States Postal Service and use it as a tool for voter suppression was a clear overreach of executive power. The Constitution is unequivocal- states run our elections, not the President.

"Mail-in voting, which has been used by the president, is a secure, vital lifeline for millions of citizens - particularly Black voters, working families, elderly residents, and rural communities who already face immense systemic barriers at the ballot box. By stopping this unlawful executive order, the court has halted an aggressive attempt to breed chaos, delegitmize local election officials, and mass-disenfranchise eligible voters. The NAACP will remain a fierce advocate in courtrooms and communities across this nation to ensure that every eligible voter can cast their ballot freely, fairly, and with full confidence that it will be delivered and counted."

Kristen Clarke, NAACP General Counsel, added:

"This ruling strikes down a dangerous scheme to manufacture an unprecedented federal database intended to strip voters from the rolls this midterm election season. As each day goes by, this administration has become more feverish in its 11th hour attempt to disenfranchise voters in pockets across our country. This administration is bent on abusing the levers of government to strip voters of their voice. Today, the rule of law prevailed over executive overreach, preserving locally-managed elections, ensuring fairness and protecting voter privacy."

The ruling permanently halts DHS from compiling a federal database using data from the Social Security Administration to superintend state voter registration rolls, and nullifies directives instructing the Department of Justice to prioritize the criminal prosecution of local election administrators who refused to comply with the federal database.

The NAACP will continue to monitor and litigate against any attempts to restrict access to the ballot box as the nation is underway within a crucial election cycle.

To learn more about the NAACP's ongoing legal fight for voting rights, visit naacp.org.

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About NAACP

The NAACP advocates, agitates, and litigates for the civil rights due to Black America. Our legacy is built on the foundation of grassroots activism by the biggest civil rights pioneers of the 20th century and is sustained by 21st century activists. From classrooms and courtrooms to city halls and Congress, our network of members across the country works to secure the social and political power that will end race-based discrimination. That work is rooted in racial equity, civic engagement, and supportive policies and institutions for all marginalized people. We are committed to a world without racism where Black people enjoy equitable opportunities in thriving communities.

NOTE: The Legal Defense Fund - also referred to as the NAACP-LDF - was founded in 1940 as a part of the NAACP, but now operates as a completely separate entity.