Topline
A federal judge on Thursday once again blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing its new mail-in voting restrictions ahead of the midterm elections, just days after the Supreme Court lifted an earlier injunction against the measure without weighing in on the legality of Trump’s bid to curb mail-in voting.
A federal judge once again blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to curb mail-in voting.
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Key Facts
Massachusetts federal judge Indira Talwani ruled that the group of Democratic states appealing against the Trump administration’s restrictions are “likely to succeed on the merits of their claims” that the USPS mail-in ballot rules were “unconstitutional.”
The judge noted that, based on the evidence presented, Democratic states face “irreparable harm” if they are forced to comply with the “likely unconstitutional regulation,” and that compliance is “practically impossible” ahead of the midterm elections.
The Postal Service published its final rules on the mail-in ballots—based on Trump’s March executive order—on Wednesday and implemented requirements including new design guidelines.
The ruling noted that the plaintiff states “neither time nor funds” to design new mail ballots, get them approved and update their systems just before the midterms—adding that some state laws require ballots to be mailed out as early as next week.
Talwani issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the implementation of the rule for another two weeks.
How Have Democratic States Reacted To The Ruling?
New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote on X: “We just won a court order blocking the Trump administration’s new rule that would have allowed the USPS to interfere with mail-in voting. States are responsible for processing our elections, and the USPS does not have the authority to decide who can and cannot vote by mail.” California Attorney General Rob Bonta also hailed the ruling and tweeted: “We’ve secured an early win blocking this unlawful attempt to restrict mail voting. President Trump must keep his hands off our elections.”