The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 26, 2026
WASHINGTON –June 25th, a Massachusetts federal district court blocked portions of President Trump’s executive order directing the U.S. Postal Service to verify a voter’s citizenship before receiving or returning a mail-in ballot. August 24th, the U.S. Supreme Court’s majority stayed that order, ruling the states had not yet been harmed.
A First Circuit panel had upheld the lower court, and August 11th, the district court expanded the injunction nationwide. It blocked USPS from implementing the order’s Sections 2 and 3, and agreed states had been harmed because the election was imminent and they had already begun preparations.
But In a 6-3 decision August 24th, the high court’s majority wrote that states were NOT harmed. QUOTE, “The hypothetical future harm that the States fear—the Secretary’s implementation of §2(a)—is far from “certainly impending.” UNQUOTE. The majority also said the constitution’s Elections Clause granting states authority over elections, not the president, didn’t apply. QUOTE, “This internal directive does not regulate the States’ voter registration processes.”
Justice Jackson dissented, writing “The Court has held for a while now that even valid dissenting election-related legal claims can come too late. Today’s revelation is that such claims can also come too early — never mind that an election is looming and related harms are presently occurring,” UNQUOTE.
We’ve linked the decision at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org. I’m Brian Beihl.
Today’s Links
Articles & Resources:
U.S. Supreme Court – DONALD J. TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, ET AL. v. CALIFORNIA, ET AL. ON APPLICATION FOR STAY
SCOTUSBlog – Supreme Court allows Trump administration to move forward with order imposing restrictions on mail-in voting
Brennan Center for Justice – Voting Rights Groups React to Supreme Court Order in Trump v. California
The White House – ENSURING CITIZENSHIP VERIFICATION AND INTEGRITY IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
U.S. District Court for Massachusetts (via Court Listener) – Ruling in California v. Trump
Related ADM Reports:
American Democracy Minute – (Aug 13) District Court Block of Executive Order for USPS Citizenship Verification Now Nationwide; DOJ Asks SCOTUS to Quickly Overturn the Ruling
American Democracy Minute – (July 28) Largely Blocked by Lower Courts, Administration Asks SCOTUS to Allow Executive Order Directing USPS to Verify Citizenship of Mail-In Voters
Groups Taking Action:
League of Women Voters US, Democracy Defenders Fund, Common Cause
Register or Check Your Voter Registration:
U.S. Election Assistance Commission – How to Register And Vote in Your State
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