Mail-in ballots will go out on schedule for the Nov. 3 midterm after the U.S. Supreme Court blocked the Trump administration's push to impose new restrictions on mail voting.
The court's ruling Monday, Sept. 14, means the U.S. Postal Service will continue delivering ballots as usual. County registrars across California are preparing to mail ballots by the state's Oct. 5 deadline, and Los Angeles County is exploring pop-up stations where voters can request and submit ballots, according to a CalMatters report published by PasadenaNow.
About 80% of Californians voted by mail in 2024, the Los Angeles Times reported.
The ruling
The Supreme Court found the administration was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote that applying the rule for the 2026 elections "would be arbitrary and capricious" because election officials lack time to implement it, LAist reported. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.
Trump signed an executive order in March seeking to give the federal government control over who receives mail-in ballots. More than 20 Democratic attorneys general, including California's Rob Bonta, sued, arguing the Constitution reserves election administration to Congress and state governments.
The now-blocked USPS proposal would have required states to submit voter information to a federal portal that does not yet exist. A USPS whistleblower called the development process "rushed" and "risky and haphazard," according to a complaint shared with the office of Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn.
What it means for Pasadena voters
L.A. County already prints unique barcodes on ballot envelopes, a feature the blocked rule would have required, the OC Register reported. Local voters would have seen little practical change even if the rule had taken effect.
Dean Logan, L.A. County's registrar-recorder and county clerk, said in an Aug. 25 statement that his office would step up voter education efforts. He warned that "one of the most significant risks we face is the possibility of voter confusion and diminished participation …"
Kim Alexander, president of the California Voter Foundation, said the legal fight may have an unintended benefit. "This whole play may backfire," she said Sept. 14. "What you're seeing now on social media in response to this court drama and this confusion are lots of people urging their friends to vote early …"
How to vote
Pasadena residents can track their mail ballot through the state's free Where's My Ballot service. To confirm a ballot was received and counted, voters can use L.A. County's Vote by Mail Status Tool.
The Pasadena City Clerk's office posts ballot drop box locations on its website. The page lists primary election resources; general election drop box and vote center locations are expected to be posted closer to Oct. 5.
Dropping off a ballot at a drop box several days before Election Day helps speed counting, since staff can begin processing envelopes early, according to CalMatters.
