A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the US Postal Service (USPS) from implementing part of Donald Trump’s executive order that aims to tighten rules for mail-in voting ahead of November midterm elections that will decide control of Congress.
The ruling by US district judge Indira Talwani in Boston in effect expanded on an earlier order she had issued in June that had prevented Trump’s administration from implementing it in 23 mostly Democratic-led states.
Expansion of Previous Order
Several voting rights groups had urged her to go further and prevent USPS from implementing anywhere in the nation a proposed rule requiring states to provide lists of voters and adopt new balloting procedures before the mail agency would make deliveries.
If states did not comply, USPS would have refused to deliver the ballots. The plaintiffs had contended USPS would have no legal basis for such a refusal.
Impact on Midterm Elections
The ruling ensures that USPS will not enforce the rule in any state, removing a potential barrier to mail-in voting in the upcoming elections. The decision is seen as a victory for voting rights advocates who argued the rule would disenfranchise voters.
The case highlights ongoing legal battles over election procedures, with courts stepping in to review executive actions that could affect the electoral process.
