Overview
- A Supreme Court order lifted a Boston judge’s nationwide preliminary injunction on Monday, allowing the Justice Department and administration to resume preparing rules that would tighten how the U.S. Postal Service delivers mail ballots.
- The March executive order would require states to produce lists of voters eligible for mail ballots and direct USPS to deliver ballot materials only to names on those lists, changing the Postal Service’s role from carrier to gatekeeper.
- Democratic officials from 23 states and the District of Columbia and civil‑rights groups sued to block the order, arguing the Constitution vests election rules with states and Congress and warning the changes could confuse voters and suppress participation.
- Election officials and experts say tight time frames, the need to build new lists and barcodes, and the risk of data errors make practical implementation before the November 3 midterms uncertain and could cause ballots to be delayed or rejected.
- The court’s action did not decide the merits of the case and more litigation is expected, so the rules could still be altered or blocked and voters should watch for state guidance on how any changes will affect how they receive and return ballots.