Trump slams ‘horrible’ Supreme Court mail-in ballot ruling
US President Donald Trump has criticised the Supreme Court after the nine-member panel declined his request to lift an order blocking his administration’s plan to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections. Trump described the decision as “horrible” and “highly political,” accusing some justices of being intimidated by Democrats and failing to show the courage he said was needed to protect the country. Trump had signed an executive order in March seeking tighter restrictions on mail-in voting, arguing without evidence that the system was vulnerable to fraud. The move triggered legal challenges from Democratic-led states, which argued that the US Constitution gives states broad authority over the administration of elections rather than the federal government. Justice Brett Kavanaugh, while joining the majority, said the administration’s proposal could potentially be lawful in the long term but that state and local election officials did not have enough time to implement it reasonably before the upcoming elections. Two of the court’s six conservative justices dissented from the ruling.
Trump has continued to attack mail-in voting, claiming without evidence that the US system is a “laughing stock” around the world and alleging that the ruling would make election fraud easier for Democrats. More than 30 countries allow some form of voting by mail, while the US system has not been found to have the widespread fraud Trump has repeatedly alleged. Trump has also faced criticism for opposing a voting method he has used himself, including when he voted by mail in Florida’s Republican primary last month. The legal battle comes as both parties prepare for the November 3 elections, with Republicans holding narrow majorities in Congress and Democrats seeking to regain control of the House and potentially the Senate. The dispute over mail-in ballots is also unfolding alongside partisan redistricting battles in several states, making election rules a major political issue ahead of the vote.
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