WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court has cleared a major legal obstacle to President Donald Trump's effort to impose new restrictions on mail-in voting, giving the administration a significant political and legal development ahead of November's midterm elections.

The court's conservative majority lifted a lower-court injunction that had blocked part of Trump's March executive order. The order directs federal agencies to develop changes affecting how mail-in ballots are handled, including requirements involving voter eligibility lists.

The decision does not resolve the broader legal battle. A separate injunction affecting the U.S. Postal Service remains in place, leaving uncertainty over how quickly and extensively the administration's changes can be implemented.

Democratic officials and voting-rights advocates have criticized the administration's approach, arguing that election administration is traditionally controlled by the states. Several officials have indicated that further legal challenges are likely.

The timing makes the case particularly significant. The 2026 midterm elections will determine control of Congress, and mail voting remains an important method of participation for millions of Americans.

The Supreme Court's decision therefore puts election administration, voter access and federal authority at the center of an increasingly consequential political fight.

With the November elections approaching, further court rulings could determine whether the administration's mail-ballot policies take effect nationwide or face additional restrictions.