Donald Trump’s latest move could change how millions of Americans vote in the upcoming midterms. The administration is pushing the Supreme Court to greenlight sweeping new USPS mail-ballot restrictions before November.
Donald Trump’s administration is asking the Supreme Court to revive new USPS mail-ballot restrictions
Donald Trump’s administration asked the Supreme Court on Thursday to revive sweeping USPS mail-ballot restrictions. The emergency appeal leapfrogged lower courts still considering the case, CNN reported. The rules would require states to submit eligible voter lists through an online portal. USPS would then decline to deliver ballots to anyone not on that list.
The administration described its rules as “only modest envelope-design and addressee-information requirements.” It framed the effort as regulating mail rather than controlling elections. The Justice Department wrote that the lower court order “partially nullifies the Postal Service’s efforts to address the risk that the federal mails will be used to perpetrate voter fraud.” North Carolina is set to begin sending mail ballots on Friday.
Critics call the order a power grab over state-run mail ballots.
Democratic-led states argue the Constitution gives election authority to states, not the president. They also contend Congress never gave USPS authority to police state mail ballot programs. A recent whistleblower report alleged USPS planned to reject entire ballot batches over single errors.
ACLU Voting Rights Project director Sophia Lin Lakin called the rule “an unconstitutional attempt to upend mail voting on the eve of an election.” North Carolina Attorney General Jeff Jackson warned the request would throw his state’s election into “chaos.”
Democratic attorneys general urged the Supreme Court to hold off on quick action. They noted USPS acknowledged its portal will not be operational until next week. The court requested a response by Tuesday morning. A temporary restraining order blocking the rules expires on September 10.
