Judicial Setback for Trump: Mail-in Ballot System Remains in Place

The government of Donald Trump suffered a new judicial setback after the U.S. Supreme Court invalidated, this Monday, the presidential proposal that sought to restrict mail-in voting in the legislative elections next November.

The decision of the highest court, adopted by a majority of seven votes against two, left without effect the regulation promoted by the Republican administration. The rule sought to oblige states to deliver detailed voter lists to the Postal Service and to include unique barcodes on ballot shipping and return envelopes, with the argument of preventing fraud.

With this ruling, states will be able to maintain their own mail voting rules, as they have done for years, guaranteeing the continuity of a mechanism that has been key in previous electoral processes.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold celebrated the resolution and stated: "Trump's attempt to sabotage the 2026 elections has failed." Her statements add to criticism against other initiatives by the president, such as the proposal to grant payments to those who voted for his party.

Since its presentation, the measure was rejected by senators, governors, and public officials, who warned that it improperly altered the electoral process and put citizen participation at risk.

It is not the first time Trump has questioned mail-in voting. In the 2020 elections, in which he was defeated, he spread conspiracy theories to discredit this system, alleging supposed massive fraud.

However, to date, the president has not been able to present sufficient evidence demonstrating large-scale irregularities capable of modifying election results, neither in 2020 nor in other subsequent contests.

The Supreme Court ruling reinforces the validity of mail-in voting and sets a precedent against attempts to limit it, just weeks before the legislative elections scheduled for November 3.