WASHINGTON ? Democrats and voting-rights groups filed new lawsuits this week to block President Donald Trump's executive order restricting mail voting, opening a fresh legal battle over federal power and election administration ahead of the 2026 midterms.

The dispute began after Trump signed an order directing federal agencies to help assemble a national list of eligible voters and to limit the mailing of absentee ballots. In its initial report, The Associated Press said election-law experts and Democratic state officials immediately argued that the move intruded on powers the Constitution reserves to states and Congress.

By the next day, AP reported that Democratic groups had sued to block the order, arguing that the president cannot decide who is eligible to vote by mail and warning that states would not have time to reconcile voter records before ballots begin going out for the fall elections.

A separate challenge from Democratic attorneys general was outlined by The Guardian, which reported that state officials described the order as unconstitutional and said it risked creating confusion for election administrators and voters alike.

The cases are expected to test again whether the White House can reshape election procedures through executive action after federal courts last year blocked earlier parts of Trump's election overhaul effort.