Supreme Court Denies Trump Mail Ballot Plan

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., blocked the Postal Service Sunday from enforcing Trump's executive order on mail balloting. The Supreme Court is separately considering the administration's appeal of a similar block issued in Boston.

• Judge Nichols was nominated by Trump; Boston's Judge Talwani was nominated by Obama.
• 3 states — Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin — are already sending mail ballots.
• The USPS rule, issued Aug. 21, requires pre-approval of ballot envelope designs and an upload of recipient identities to a still-inactive portal.
• A whistleblower report to Congress warned millions of voters could lose access if the rule stands.

Why it matters: Election officials say implementing the new USPS requirements this close to a general election is not feasible. Nichols wrote that without an injunction, a significant number of valid ballots risked going uncounted.

• The postal workers' union argues verifying voter eligibility is not a postal function.

How 41 sources split on this story

What’s next: The Supreme Court is weighing the administration's appeal of the Boston injunction and could rule at any time.

• More states are preparing to distribute mail ballots this week, increasing the urgency of a final ruling.
• Will the Supreme Court lift either or both injunctions before midterm mail balloting is fully underway?
• How many states will begin sending ballots before the Court acts, and what happens to those already sent?