A U.S. judge on Thursday declined to block President Donald Trump's executive order tightening rules on mail-in voting, a loss for Democrats who argued it could disenfranchise millions of voters.
The order, signed on March 31, directs federal agencies to compile lists of eligible voters in each state and requires the U.S. Postal Service to deliver ballots only to approved voters.
Judge Carl Nichols rejected the request for a preliminary injunction, siding with the Department of Justice's argument that the lawsuit was premature.
Democrats, including Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, argued the order infringes on states' rights and risks excluding lawfully registered voters due to outdated data.
A similar challenge filed by Democratic states in Boston federal court is pending.
