Published July 18, 2026 at 5:30 PM ET · Updated July 20, 2026 at 6:08 AM ET
Appeals court hands President Trump win in mail-in voting case
2 independent outlets are covering this story. Verification: Corroborated — reported by at least two independent outlets. Patriot Watch links to original reporting; we don't republish it.
An appeals court lifted a block on USPS mail-in ballot handling in a ruling favorable to President Trump. The court's decision was described as a significant win for Trump on mail-in voting.
Patriot Watch first flagged this story 2 d ago, when Newsmax reported it. Coverage has since grown to 2 independent outlets. The most recent report came 19 hr ago from American Spectator. Verification tier: Corroborated — reported by at least two independent outlets.
⚖ The Constitutional Angle
Purcell v. Gonzalez warns that court orders affecting elections can themselves cause voter confusion, and that risk grows as election day nears, so courts must weigh those proximity harms before altering voting rules. An appeals court lifting a block on mail-in ballot handling falls squarely in that zone, where timing and stability matter as much as the underlying rule.
Purcell v. Gonzalez 549 U.S. 1 (2006)
Vote: Per curiam; no noted dissents (Oyez records it as unanimous) · Opinion: Per curiam (unsigned)
The Ninth Circuit's injunction pending appeal is vacated. The court of appeals gave no deference to the district court's refusal to enjoin the law and offered no reasoning of its own, and it failed to weigh the imminence of the election: 'Court orders affecting elections, especially conflicting orders, can themselves result in voter confusion and consequent incentive to remain away from the polls. As an election draws closer, that risk will increase.' Courts must weigh these election-proximity harms before altering rules on the eve of voting.
Precedent facts from the PW Law Library — primary-source verified & independently audited
