The U.S. Postal Service released final regulations Friday governing mail ballot procedures, though their applicability remains contingent on judicial decisions affecting an executive order restricting mail voting. A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked President Trump’s directive, which seeks to limit mail ballot eligibility, and has also issued a second injunction preventing the Postal Service from implementing procedural changes before this year’s midterms.
The administration has petitioned the Supreme Court to overturn the freeze on the voting restrictions. However, legal experts note that overturning the first injunction would likely prove insufficient; the second injunction would also need to be vacated for the Postal Service rule to take effect during the current election cycle.
Timing presents a significant obstacle to implementation. Mail ballots destined for military and overseas voters from North Carolina are scheduled to be distributed starting September 4, leaving insufficient time for states nationwide to reformat their ballots to align with the administration’s specifications. The new Postal Service regulation additionally requires states to submit voter lists as a condition for mail ballot delivery.
Opponents of Trump’s order, including lawyers representing Democratic-led states and civil rights organizations, argue that the president lacks constitutional authority to modify election procedures. These plaintiffs contend that the Constitution reserves such regulatory power exclusively to individual states or Congress. The administration’s desired changes, which would establish federal compilation of voter eligibility lists and restrict mail ballots to federally approved recipients, have not secured congressional approval.
The Supreme Court has not yet acted on the administration’s emergency petition filed the previous month. The Postal Service declined to comment on its regulation, citing the ongoing litigation.
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