The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the Trump administration’s attempt to limit mail-in voting for now, keeping in place a lower court decision blocking the U.S. Postal Service from implementing new restrictions.
“The Government is unlikely to succeed on the merits of its challenge to the District Court’s preliminary injunction,” the ruling said.
The ruling clears the way for states to continue sending out mail-in ballots as planned ahead of the midterms.
President Donald Trump, who has pushed unfounded claims of widespread mail ballot fraud, wants states to report to USPS basic voter information, such as a voter’s name and home address, attached to a unique barcode on every mail-in ballot distributed. Postal workers would then only deliver ballots addressed to voters who appear on the state-provided list.
The Trump administration has insisted the rules would impose only “modest” ballot design and review requirements on states and that a requirement to submit name, address, and barcode information of intended recipients was not onerous or intrusive.
Democratic-led states and voter advocacy groups have argued that the new USPS regulations are an attempt by the Trump administration to federalize elections, which are historically and constitutionally managed by each state, and make it harder to vote by mail for everyday citizens.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
