The Supreme Court has declined to lift an injunction against a USPS plan that would have imposed new requirements on mail-in ballots for the upcoming midterm elections.
Key facts
- •The Supreme Court's order prevents the USPS from enforcing new ballot requirements during the midterm elections.
- •The blocked rules would have required states to provide voter lists and use specific barcodes on ballot envelopes.
- •Republican state election officials, including those from Utah, warned that the plan would likely cause delays and confusion.
- •Voting by mail is already underway in several states, including Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin.
- •Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas were the only members of the court to publicly dissent from the decision.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled on Monday to keep in place a preliminary injunction blocking the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new restrictions on mail-in ballots. The decision prevents the agency from implementing requirements that would have forced states to provide voter lists and use specific barcodes on ballot envelopes. The court stated that the administration was unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge, allowing current mail-in voting procedures to continue for the November midterms.
Background of the Legal Challenge
The USPS plan originated from a March executive order issued by President Trump. Under the proposed rules, the Postal Service could have refused to deliver ballots that did not comply with new barcode and envelope standards. A federal judge in Boston initially blocked the measure, ruling that the Postal Service lacked the authority to regulate mail-in voting. A second federal judge issued a similar injunction shortly after.
Court Opinions and Dissent
While the majority of the court kept the injunction in place, Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote a concurring opinion noting that while the Postal Service might have statutory authority to regulate mail, implementing the rule for the 2026 elections would be arbitrary and capricious due to the lack of time for officials to prepare. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing that the Postal Service possesses broad regulatory authority and would have granted the administration's request to pause the lower court's ruling.
Timeline
- MarchPresident Trump issued an executive order aimed at tightening rules for mail-in voting.
- Earlier this monthA federal judge in Boston issued a preliminary injunction blocking the USPS from imposing new ballot requirements.
- Late SundayA second federal judge issued another preliminary injunction against the USPS plan.
- MondayThe Supreme Court declined to lift the injunctions, keeping the USPS plan paused for the midterms.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by NPR Politics, The Hill, CBC World.
