USPS Blocked from Restricting Mail-In Voting

A Federal Judge Blocks Trump's Plan to Restrict Mail-In Voting

The latest development in the ongoing saga of political maneuvering and institutional power struggles has unfolded with a federal judge blocking the United States Postal Service from implementing core parts of a new rule that would tighten mail-in voting requirements ahead of the November congressional elections.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, an appointee of Democratic President Barack Obama, issued a temporary restraining order at the behest of Democratic-led states and voting rights groups after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday lifted earlier injunctions blocking Trump's plans to restrict mail-in voting.

The new rule, adopted at the direction of President Donald Trump, would require states to supply the USPS with lists of mail ballot recipients, and all outbound and return ballot envelopes must bear unique barcodes. The USPS may refuse to deliver ballots that do not comply with the new standards or are associated with voters who do not appear on the lists.

Judge Talwani's ruling cited a lack of evidence presented by the USPS regarding fraudulent mail-in voting that would necessitate such a rule, which she deemed likely unconstitutional and adopted in violation of the U.S. Constitution, which gives states the authority to administer elections.

The restraining order will remain in place for 14 days while Judge Talwani considers whether to issue a longer-term preliminary injunction blocking the rule. A hearing is scheduled for September 3.

Sophia Lin Lakin, a lawyer for the voting rights groups at the American Civil Liberties Union, said in a statement, "Today's order presses pause on an unlawful power grab that would sow chaos and confusion for the millions of voters who depend on mail ballots."

The White House and USPS did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

In response to Trump's executive order calling for tighter rules on voting by mail, the USPS issued the rule in March. Under this rule, states must supply the USPS with lists of mail ballot recipients, and all outbound and return ballot envelopes must bear unique barcodes. The USPS may refuse to deliver ballots that do not comply with the new standards or are associated with voters who do not appear on the lists.

All 50 states allow for some form of mail-in voting, with 29 allowing voters to ask to cast ballots that way without providing a reason and eight conducting their elections entirely by mail. During the 2024 election, the USPS processed nearly 100 million ballots, and about 30% of voters nationwide cast ballots by mail, according to the states.

The new federal restrictions risk disenfranchising voters and would unduly burden states in the weeks running up to the election, forcing them to buy new envelopes and equipment, establish new systems, and train staff.