US Postal Service enacts mail-in ballot restrictions after Supreme Court ruling
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The US Postal Service announced Thursday that new restrictions on mail-in ballots are now in effect, following a Supreme Court ruling in favor of the Trump administration. The measures require the agency to compile voter lists from states and deliver ballots only to those on the lists. Legal challenges continue, including a lawsuit filed Wednesday by 24 states in Massachusetts federal court.
Key Facts
- The US Postal Service announced Thursday that new mail-in ballot restrictions are now in effect.
- The US Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of the Trump administration, clearing the way for the measures.
- A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Massachusetts federal court by 24 states challenges the restrictions as unconstitutional.
- The new procedures require the Postal Service to compile voter lists from states and deliver ballots only to those on the lists.
- US midterm elections are scheduled for November 3, 2026.
Supreme Court Ruling
The US Supreme Court ruled Monday in favor of the Trump administration, clearing the way for the new mail-in ballot restrictions. The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. The ruling addressed a challenge brought by officials from dozens of states who argued the US Constitution gives states and Congress the power to run elections. Those officials warned the changes could lead to chaos and partisan abuse.
Ongoing Legal Challenges
A fresh case was filed Wednesday in a federal court in Massachusetts by 24 states. State attorneys-general argue the measures are unconstitutional and would inflict significant, imminent, and irreparable harm on states. They contend the rules impose new and burdensome mail voting requirements just before the November elections. The Postal Service had previously put implementation on hold as Democratic officials in dozens of states and voting rights advocacy groups lodged legal challenges in federal courts.
Postal Service Implementation
The Postal Service said the government received relief from injunctions, meaning they no longer preclude implementation of the rule for November 3, 2026 or any earlier federal election. The new procedures require the agency to compile lists of eligible voters using input from US states and deliver ballots only to individuals on those lists. In March, President Trump signed an executive order calling for creation of eligible voter lists and restricting mail-in ballot delivery to those on the lists. Trump has claimed states have not adequately verified who sends in mail-in ballots and that registered voters meet requirements like US citizenship.
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US Postal Service enacts mail-in ballot restrictions after Supreme Court ruling
