The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 1, 2026
Because no voters had yet been harmed, a federal district court allowed the Trump administration to proceed with President Donald Trump’s March 31 executive order federalizing mail-in voting rules. The order is widely seen as unconstitutional.
It tasked the United States Postal Service with determining a mail-in voter’s citizenship and eligibility upon receipt and return of a ballot. USPS personnel would rely on a yet to be created State-Specific Mail-In and Absentee
Participation List database, which would include citizenship and other information.
Pro-voter groups and attorneys general from 23 states argue that the U.S. Constitution grants states and Congress jurisdiction over elections, not the president or USPS, and that assembling such a database violates the Privacy Act of 1974 and other state and federal statutes.
Because the database had not yet been created or used, DC District Court Judge Carl J. Nichols ruled May 29th for three of the consolidated cases that the plaintiffs QUOTE “have not suffered any harm at present, much less harm that is ‘certain,’ ‘great,’ and imminent,” he wrote.
The ruling doesn’t prohibit plaintiffs from bringing complaints at a later date. The suit by state attorneys general remains pending in federal district court in Massachusetts. The same day of the DC ruling, the USPS released its proposal to comply with the executive order.
We’ve linked to the decision at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. District Court for DC – Consolidates Complaints from NAACP, League of United Latin American Citizens, Democratic Senate Campaign Committee
The White House – ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
U.S. Postal Service – Proposal for Implementation of Executive Order on Mail-In Voting
Washington Post – Court lets Trump’s executive order limiting mail-in voting stand, for now
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Trump Issues Executive Order Attempting to Federalize Mail-In Voting Rules and Establish ‘State Citizenship List’. It’s Beyond His Authority.
American Democracy Minute – Trump Executive Order on Mail-In Voting Spurs 5 Lawsuits from States, Pro-Democracy Groups, Civil Rights Groups and the Democratic Party
Groups Taking Action:
NAACP, Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, LULAC
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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