Second Federal Judge Freezes Trump Mail Ballot Order

September 14, 2026 5:14 am

A federal judge in Washington, D.C. has issued a new order freezing President Donald Trump’s attempt to limit mail voting for the midterm elections. A previous order from another judge is already before the U.S. Supreme Court. Election officials say they could not implement Trump’s new requirements before November. The decision issued late Sunday by U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols is significant because he was nominated by Trump and earlier declined to freeze the president’s executive order, saying at the time it was premature. In issuing a preliminary injunction, he wrote that it’s now clear many people could lose their ability to vote if it goes into effect.