The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Monday to clear the way for an executive order from US President Donald Trump that could dramatically change mail-in voting ahead of November’s midterm elections.
The Justice Department asked the justices to halt current lower court rulings that are blocking major changes in nearly half of the country.
The request comes shortly after Trump delivered a speech that ramped up his years-long push to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the election and could be one of the most challenging voting-related issues before the court ahead of the top midterm race.
Trump ordered the government in March to create a “state citizenship list” of eligible voters and deliver mail-in ballots only to people on that list.
Democratic officials in 23 states and the District of Columbia sued, saying the Constitution gives the states and Congress the power to set election laws, not the president. Their lawyers have said Trump’s proposed changes are open to abuse and could lead to chaos.
A judge in Massachusetts blocked the executive order for the plaintiff states and a divided panel of the 1st Circuit Court of Appeals vacated its decision over the weekend.
