FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 15, 2026
Contact: press@apiavote.org
Washington, DC – The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold a federal court’s injunction is an important victory for those planning to vote by mail during the 2026 Midterm Elections, especially for Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) voters that largely vote by mail. The Court’s ruling protects established mail-in ballot procedures and ensures that election administrators can focus on helping eligible voters cast a ballot.
“Yesterday’s decision provides necessary clarity for election administrators and AAPI voters with less than 50 days until the Midterm General Elections,” said Christine Chen, Executive Director of APIAVote. “For the countless AAPI voters that vote by mail, the Supreme Court’s ruling empowers the Constitutional rights of states to administer their own elections, and allows voters to participate in democracy with the confidence that their voice will be heard.”
Many AAPI voters rely on mail-in ballots for a range of reasons from work schedules, caregiving responsibilities, transportation challenges, language barriers, disability, or simply the need for additional time and flexibility to participate in the electoral process. The 2026 Asian American Voter Survey survey, affirmed these trends – showing that 49% of AAPI participants prefer voting by a method other than going to the polls in-person on Election Day, with 34% preferring to vote by mail and another 15% preferring ballot drop-off. For minority communities that have worked for generations to find their voice in the civic process, access to the ballot is not an abstract issue – it is fundamental to our ability to be heard.
“As we’ve seen over the past few months, federal attempts to influence the voting process have confused local election administrators and voters. Last-minute policy changes to the voting process would disproportionately confuse AAPI voters – who already face language and accessibility barriers at the polls,” Chen continued. “Our recent Asian American Voter Survey indicates that 90% of the AAPI electorate is eager to vote in the 2026 Midterms. Stable election processes allow these voters to participate.”
APIAVote stands together with our communities and our partner organizations in fighting for accessible, secure, and lawful voting for all eligible Americans. We call on election administrators, policymakers, and leaders of both parties to ensure that every eligible voter can participate without fear, unnecessary obstacles, or last-minute changes. Our democracy is strongest when every community is included, every lawful vote is protected, and every voter has a genuine opportunity to make their voice heard.
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About APIAVote: Asian and Pacific Islander American Vote (APIAVote) is the nation’s leading nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to engaging, educating, and empowering Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities to strengthen and sustain a culture of civic engagement. See our website for more information at https://www.apiavote.org/