# Supreme Court keeps mail ballots on track

> The justices left a block on new USPS ballot rules in place, keeping existing mail voting systems for the Nov. 3 midterms.
- Title: Supreme Court keeps mail ballots on track · Valleynewslive
- Summary: The justices left a block on new USPS ballot rules in place, keeping existing mail voting systems for the Nov. 3 midterms. States can keep using their…
- Keywords: supreme court, donald trump, mail-in ballots, postal service, nov. 3 election, midterms, executive order, ballot envelopes, voting rights, samuel alito, clarence thomas, brett kavanaugh
- Source: Valleynewslive — https://valleynewslive.com/2026/09/16/supreme-court-blocks-trump-mail-in-ballot-rules
- Published: 2026-09-16T00:32:50.252+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: supreme court, donald trump, mail-in ballots, postal service, nov. 3 election, midterms, executive order, ballot envelopes, voting rights, samuel alito, clarence thomas, brett kavanaugh
## Rules stay blocked
The Supreme Court refused to let the Trump administration enforce new mail ballot restrictions before the November midterm elections.

> The government is unlikely to succeed on the merits
## States keep procedures
The order lets states continue sending mail ballots under their existing systems as voting begins for the Nov. 3 election.
## Trump criticizes ruling
Trump called the decision a loss on Truth Social and repeated claims that mail voting helps opponents cheat. Widespread mail-ballot fraud has not been found.

> big loss for Republicans and America itself
## USPS rules explained
The plan required approved ballot envelopes, unique barcodes, voter data uploads to a Postal Service portal, and agency review before ballots could be mailed.
## Opponents warned disruption
States and voting-rights groups said the federal rules intruded on state election authority and could keep eligible voters from receiving ballots weeks before Election Day.
## Case is not over
Alito and Thomas dissented. Kavanaugh agreed the rules should stay blocked for 2026, but said the wider legal question may still return.
## Key takeaway

States can keep using their current mail ballot procedures for the 2026 election while the legal fight over USPS rules continues.