Appeals Court Refuses to Lift Mail Ballot Block

A federal appeals court on Thursday refused to let the Trump administration enforce new Postal Service restrictions on mail-in voting before the November midterms — and seven Republican chief election officials told the Supreme Court the same day that it is simply too late to change the rules.

A federal appeals court in Boston on Thursday declined to lift a lower court's order blocking a new U.S. Postal Service rule that would tighten requirements for mail-in ballots, Reuters reported.

The ruling keeps the restrictions on hold for November's congressional elections while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a similar request from the administration.

Bloomberg called the decision another setback for the Justice Department as it urges the Supreme Court to step in before the midterms.

The Republican Objection

Earlier Thursday, seven Republican chief election officials urged the Supreme Court not to let President Trump's mail ballot order take effect for November, according to Politico. Their argument is one of timing: with the election weeks away, states cannot rebuild their mail voting procedures now.