Boston judge blocks Trump order limiting mail voting | JQJO

Boston — A federal judge in Boston has halted key parts of President Donald Trump’s executive order restricting mail-in voting nationwide, marking a significant legal setback for the administration’s efforts to reshape federal election rules. In a ruling issued Thursday, June 25, 2026, U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani found that the order exceeded presidential authority under the U.S. Constitution by attempting to curb the use of mail-in ballots across the states. She cited Article I, Section 4, which assigns responsibility for setting the times, places and manner of holding elections for senators and representatives to state legislatures and Congress, not the President.

Boston — Legal analysts said the decision underscores a growing constitutional clash over the balance of power between the executive branch and state authorities as the country prepares for midterm primary elections. The ruling is one of several challenges moving through federal courts, including a separate appeal in Washington, D.C., that targets the same executive order. The Justice Department has argued that the directive is a lawful measure designed to protect the security and integrity of federal elections, and the Trump administration is expected to appeal Talwani’s decision as part of its broader defense of the order.