Federal Judge Hears Challenge to Trump Mail-in Voting Order

Attorneys for Democratic groups and civil rights organizations argued Thursday before a federal judge in Washington that President Donald Trump's March 31 executive order exceeds presidential authority by limiting mail-in voting access nationwide.

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols heard the consolidated lawsuits seeking to block implementation of the order but did not issue a ruling from the bench. The case, one of several challenging the directive, comes amid ongoing primary elections as officials prepare for the fall midterm elections. Nichols acknowledged the urgency, stating, "I understand the time pressure here," while questioning attorneys from both sides without signaling his position.

The order directs the Department of Homeland Security to compile a list of adults confirmed as U.S. citizens using federal data and share it with states at least 60 days before federal elections. It further instructs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver absentee ballots only to individuals on each state's approved voter list. Plaintiffs, including the Democratic National Committee, the NAACP, and the League of United Latin American Citizens, contend the measures infringe on states' and...