The US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit has rejected the Trump administration's attempt to enforce an executive order that would have tightened regulations on mail-in voting in 23 states.
The Boston-based court declined to lift a preliminary injunction previously secured by a coalition of Democratic-led states, effectively keeping the new restrictions off the books for the upcoming November elections.
The decision maintains the status quo for absentee and mail-in ballot procedures in the affected jurisdictions.
By refusing to allow the administration to implement the order, the appeals court upheld the lower court's finding that the executive action likely overstepped federal authority and could disrupt established state election laws.
This legal setback prevents the immediate rollout of stricter verification and delivery rules that the White House had sought to impose nationwide.
The ruling is the latest development in a protracted legal battle over federal oversight of election administration.