Federal judge clears path for legal challenges to Trump's executive order restricting mail-in ballots

A federal judge in Boston has allowed a coalition of Democratic-led states and voting rights groups to move forward with lawsuits challenging President Donald Trump's executive order that imposes new restrictions on mail-in voting ahead of the November elections. The ruling, issued on Thursday by the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts, narrows earlier attempts to dismiss the cases and opens the door for a substantive legal battle over voting access. The plaintiffs argue that the executive order disproportionately impacts elderly, minority, and rural voters who rely on mail-in ballots, and that it exceeds presidential authority under federal election law. The Trump administration had sought to consolidate or dismiss the challenges, asserting broad executive power over federal election procedures. According to Reuters, the court's decision preserves the possibility of injunctive relief that could block or modify the order before election day. Legal observers note that the case could set a precedent for the scope of presidential authority over state-administered elections.