The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 29, 2026
Attorneys general from 23 states challenged President Donald Trump’s March 31st executive order on elections under the Elections Clause of the U.S. Constitution. June 25th, a federal district court judge blocked the administration and U.S. Postal Service from implementing key sections of the order.
It’s the latest decision confirming that states and Congress have oversight of elections, and QUOTE, “The Constitution does not grant the President any specific powers over elections.” The judge enjoined the administration from implementing Sections 2 and 3 of the executive order.
Judge Indira Talwani of the Massachusetts Federal District Court barred the administration from demanding of states, or creating, a State Citizenship List, and pointed to writings of the founders and court precedent that states controlled the eligibility of voters, not the executive branch.
Trump’s executive order tasked USPS with verifying eligibility of voters receiving or returning mail-in ballots using the state citizenship list. “However”, the judge wrote, “no law enacted by Congress delegates authority to control mail-in voting to USPS.”
The ruling follows a June 22nd DC federal court order barring integration of data into the related SAVE database from federal agencies as a violation of federal privacy statutes. There’s no word on an emergency appeal of the cases to the U.S. Supreme Court.
We’ve linked both decisions at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. District Court for Massachusetts (via Court Listener) – Ruling in California v. Trump
U.S. District Court for DC (via Court Listener) – League of Women Voters v. Department of Homeland Security
The White House – ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
U.S. Postal Service via The Federal Register – Proposal to Comply President Trump’s Executive Order: POSTAL SERVICE 39 CFR Part 111 Ballot Mail for Federal Elections
Brennan Center for Justice – Analyzing the President’s Executive Order on Mail Voting
NPR – Judge blocks Postal Service proposal to restrict mail-in voting under Trump’s order
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – Federal District Court Rules Use of Social Security and Other Federal Data for SAVE Database Violates Multiple Federal Privacy Statutes
Groups Taking Action:
ACLU MA, League of Women Voters
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your State
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