24 States Sue USPS Over Trump Mail-Ballot Rule

24 States Sue USPS Over Trump Mail-Ballot Rule

The News

Democratic-controlled states filed a new lawsuit Wednesday to block the U.S. Postal Service rule carrying out President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail voting in this year's midterm elections.

The action was brought by about two dozen states against the Postal Service. CBS News reported the coalition is 24 states plus the District of Columbia, which argue the new rule violates the Constitution and federal law.

It lands two days after the Supreme Court lifted a lower-court block in a related case brought by the same coalition.

What the rule does

According to CNBC, the disputed rule would require election officials to hand the Postal Service voter information and to use federally reviewed ballot envelopes carrying unique barcodes.

Timeline

Monday, Aug. 24:

The Supreme Court sides with Trump in the states' earlier case, striking down a lower court's ban on his executive order. The Washington Times noted the justices did not rule that the order itself is legal.

Wednesday, Aug. 26:

The states file their new suit, this time aimed squarely at the Postal Service and its rule.

Still in force:

A separate injunction continues to bar the executive order from taking effect. The administration argues that order must be rescinded immediately in light of the high court's ruling.

Reactions

The left read Monday's ruling as a green light for an unconstitutional order. The Nation wrote that Trump's order limiting mail-in voting is "patently unconstitutional" and accused the Supreme Court of helping him "rig the midterms."

The right sees unfinished business. The Washington Times argued the ruling "settles nothing" and that the fight — and the confusion for election officials — is far from over.

Axios framed Wednesday's filing as the states again trying to shut down the sweeping Postal Service rule days after their courtroom setback.

What's Next

Two tracks now run at once: the new challenge to the Postal Service rule, and the administration's push to get the surviving injunction against the executive order thrown out.

Until a court moves, that active order still blocks part of Trump's mail-voting directive — with the midterms closing in and election offices waiting to learn which envelopes and voter-data rules apply.

More

Sources for this report: Associated Press, PBS NewsHour, CBS News, CNBC, Axios, MSNBC, The Washington Times, Ohio Capital Journal, Political Wire and The Nation.

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