A First Circuit Court of Appeals panel upheld a lower court injunction Sunday that bars the Trump administration from overhauling federal mail-in voting rules before the November 2026 midterm elections.
The three-judge panel affirmed the block, preventing changes to absentee and mail ballot procedures from taking effect during the current election cycle.
The administration had moved to revise mail-in voting rules, drawing immediate legal challenges from voting rights groups and state officials who argued the changes would disrupt established election infrastructure months before a federal election.
The First Circuit's decision leaves the lower court's injunction in place, meaning current mail-in voting rules govern the 2026 midterms unless a higher court intervenes.
The ruling does not resolve the underlying legal dispute. Litigation over the administration's authority to alter mail-in voting procedures continues in federal court, with further hearings expected in the coming weeks.
The midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026.