President Trump's March 2025 executive order directs federal agencies to create a national list of eligible voters and tighten rules around mail-in ballots.
A federal judge declined to block the order, ruling that plaintiffs had not shown immediate harm before the midterm elections.
According to the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, roughly 30 percent of ballots cast in the 2024 general election were returned by mail.
Supporters of mail-voting restrictions argue they reduce opportunities for fraud and ballot harvesting; opponents argue mail voting expands access for rural, elderly, and disabled voters with documented fraud rates below 0.001 percent.
The Constitution gives states primary authority over election administration under Article I, Section 4, though Congress may alter such regulations except for the places of choosing senators.