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Trump Administration Seeks Supreme Court to Enforce Mail Voting Restrictions Ahead of Midterms
Confirmed
In Short: The Trump administration has filed a new appeal with the Supreme Court to enforce restrictions on mail ballots, as states begin mailing out ballots ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The Trump administration has filed a new appeal with the Supreme Court on Sunday, seeking to enforce restrictions on mail ballots, as they begin entering states ahead of the midterm elections.
The filing asks the high court to stay a preliminary injunction issued by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, which prevents the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing several requirements for ballot mail in the November elections.
The rule requires federal election ballots sent through the mail to use envelopes with the official Election Mail logo, meet automation requirements, and carry unique barcodes, according to the filing.
Democratic-led states and voting rights groups challenging the restrictions argue they are unconstitutional, while election officials claim there is not enough time to revise their systems to comply before November.
The administration says the requirements are intended to improve the handling and delivery of ballot mail and protect the mail system from being used to facilitate voter fraud.
North Carolina began mailing out midterm ballots to eligible voters last week, with more states set to follow as the injunction remains in place.
What's confirmed
What's still developing
- Fox News legal editor Kerri Urbahn joins 'Fox & Friends' to analyze lawsuits filed by 24 states and Washington, D.C. against the United States Postal Service regarding mail-in voting rules.
- "Ballots have already begun to be mailed in North Carolina, and more States will begin the mailing process as the injunction remains in place — including Alabama on September 9 and at least five States the week of September 13," Solicitor General John Sauer wrote.
- The high court previously allowed the administration’s plan to move forward but has not ruled on whether the restrictions themselves are legal.
- Urbahn breaks down the Supreme Court decision and details agency rules requiring barcodes on mail-in ballots.
- "Once those ballot envelopes enter the mailstream, there is no retrieving them," he added.
- In its latest filing, the administration described the measures as "constitutional" and "reasonable preparation" for election-related mail.
- Watch more on the Trump administration's appeal on mail-in ballots: Hearst Television participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites.