Judge declines to block Trump's mail-in voting order

A federal judge on Thursday declined to block an executive order from President Donald Trump that seeks to tighten rules for mail-in voting, allowing the directive to remain in effect for now. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington, D.C., ruled that Democratic plaintiffs, including the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee and several voting rights groups, had not shown they would suffer immediate harm from the order, which has not yet been implemented.

The order, signed on March 31, directs federal agencies to compile lists of confirmed U.S. citizens eligible to vote in each state and to share that data with state election officials. It also instructs the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail-in ballots only to individuals on state-approved lists and requires states to preserve election-related records for five years.

In his ruling, Judge Nichols wrote that the plaintiffs' request for a preliminary injunction was premature. He stated that because no federal agency has taken action under the order, the plaintiffs could not demonstrate the imminent, irreparable harm required for such a court order. The judge noted the plaintiffs could renew their legal challenge if and...