The U.S. Supreme Court on May 27, 2024, denied the Trump administration’s attempt to tighten mail‑in voting rules for the upcoming midterm elections.
North Carolina and Alabama had already mailed more than 200,000 ballots, while other states planned similar operations, setting the stage for a national vote that could see the GOP retain its slim majority.
In a brief, the justices held that the administration’s challenge was unlikely to succeed and that the lower court’s injunction should remain in force. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, who had previously sided with the administration in other voting‑rights cases, wrote separate dissents.
President Trump blasted the decision as a "horrible, highly political ruling," calling Alito and Thomas "legends." State election officials welcomed the ruling, and Republican lawmakers said the court’s decision protects voters’ rights.
For voters like 18‑year‑old Emily Carter in North Carolina, who had just turned 18, the ruling means she can still receive her ballot by mail without delay.
The decision will remain in effect until the federal appellate court reviews any appeals, and the next scheduled hearing is slated for July 15, 2024.