Updates About Supreme Court Rulings

Recently, the United States Supreme Court refused the federal government’s attempt to place restrictions on U.S. Postal Service main-in ballots ahead of the November election.

In an unsigned order, the Court denied the Trump administration’s emergency request to suspend a preliminary injunction issued by a lower court that had blocked the administration’s attempted rule changes. The order was not a final ruling on the USPS authority to hand down restrictions; but instead, allows all states to keep their current mail-in voting procedures and prevents any restrictions for the 2026 election while the legal battle is ongoing.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote separately that the USPS likely has the authority to implement the restrictions but questioned whether the changes could be implemented before the election given the limited timeframe. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas were the only two justices to publicly dissent from the Court’s order.

The original rule change issued by the USPS would have made immediate changes to mail-in voting just over two months before the election date. The changes would have required states to enroll every eligible mail ballot voter with the Postal Service, which would use that data to create state voter rolls. Under the changes, states would have needed Postal Service approval for outgoing and return ballot envelope designs, in which each ballot would have its own unique barcode. The USPS would then have the ability to refuse the delivery of ballots if the voter was not included on its lists or if the envelopes did not meet the new requirements.

This week, both the Michigan and U.S. Supreme Courts rejected separate legal challenges that sought to put a proposed constitutional amendment addressing citizenship verification and voter identification on the November election ballot, ending the initiative’s chances this year.

The group behind the initiative, Americans for Citizens Voting Michigan, submitted nearly 710,000 signatures, well above the 446,198 required to be considered. However, upon review of a random sample of the signatures, the Bureau of Elections determined the campaign fell three valid signatures short for validity. The Board of State Canvassers then deadlocked over whether additional voter affidavits should be counted.

The group subsequently asked both courts to intervene and place the proposal on the ballot. The U.S. Supreme Court declined to intervene and did not state why. The Michigan Supreme Court declined to order the Board of State Canvassers to certify the proposal, and suggested that the Legislature review state law governing the timing and process for petition signature reviews.

Recently, The U.S. Supreme Court completed its 2025-2026 term. Throughout the term, the Court issued several landmark decisions in relation to birthright citizenship, elections, and executive authority. Below are short summaries of four of the most significant rulings.

Birthright Citizenship - Trump v. Barbara

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s executive order that attempted to end birthright citizenship. The court then agreed, 5-4, that the constitution’s fourteenth amendment guarantees citizenship to everyone born in the United States. Justices Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, Jackson, and Barrett held the majority opinion. Justice Kavanaugh concurred in striking down the executive order, but did not rule it unconstitutional. Justices Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissented to both decisions.

Federal Reserve Independence - Trump v. Cook

In a 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court blocked President Trump’s attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, holding that Federal Reserve governors remain protected from removal without cause. The ruling preserved the Federal Reserve’s longstanding independence from direct presidential control. The Justices in the majority opinion were Kagan, Sotomayor, Kavanaugh, Jackson, and Chief Justice Roberts. Justices Thomas, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Alito all dissented.

Executive Powers - Trump v. Slaughter

In a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court upheld President Trump’s removal of Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, ruling that the President does have the power to remove independent agency officials who exercise significant executive power. The decision overturned a previous court case that previously protected the officials from removal without cause. This decision does not apply to the Federal Reserve as outlined in Trump v. Cook. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett formed the majority, while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson dissented.

Mail-in Ballots - Watson v. Republican National Committee

The Supreme Court ruled, in a 5-4 decision, that mail-in ballots that are cast and postmarked by the day of the election will be counted even if received after Election Day has passed. The Republican National Committee had started the suit against Mississippi’s Republican Secretary of State, Michael Watson, to try and block the Mississippi law that permits counting late mail-in ballots. The Justices with the ruling opinion were Barrett, Roberts, Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson. The dissenters were Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh.

After the ruling was announced, President Trump said he was disappointed with the decision. Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson issued a statement supporting the decision, stating that it upheld voting rights and helped to ensure more citizens are able to vote.