The Supreme Court Blocks Trump’s Mail-In Voting Restrictions
In a significant decision impacting the midterm elections, the Supreme Court has dismissed President Trump’s bid to enforce new limitations on mail-in voting. The ruling, unveiled on Monday, ensures the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will maintain its current ballot delivery procedures, thwarting Trump’s efforts to alter them.
The decision arrives as mail voting is underway in several states, including Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin. Western states like Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington are also preparing to conduct their elections predominantly through mail ballots.
The now-blocked USPS proposal, initiated under an executive order by Trump, required states to provide voter lists and include specific barcodes on ballot envelopes for postal delivery. A federal judge in Boston had previously issued a preliminary injunction against these requirements, stating that the USPS lacks the authority to govern mail-in voting. A second injunction followed from another federal judge.
The Supreme Court’s majority has chosen to uphold the injunction, indicating the Trump administration’s challenge is unlikely to prevail. Conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh, in a concurring opinion, acknowledged a potential legal basis for the USPS plan but deemed its immediate application impractical, citing insufficient time for election officials to adjust.
Republican election officials, including those from Utah, a state primarily using mail voting, have echoed concerns about the USPS plan. In a brief to the Supreme Court, they warned of potential errors and voter confusion should the plan proceed.
Despite the Supreme Court’s stance, dissent came from Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas, who favored pausing the Boston judge’s ruling. The legal contention surrounding the USPS plan is expected to persist as future elections approach.
For now, challengers of the plan celebrate their win. Celina Stewart, CEO of the League of Women Voters, stated, “Today, the Supreme Court refused to allow the federal government to throw our elections into chaos just weeks before Election Day.” New York State Attorney General Letitia James expressed relief, emphasizing the necessity for voters to trust their ballots will be counted.
President Trump defended his push for the USPS rule changes as a measure against illegal voting by non-citizens, though studies show such occurrences are rare. The administration has yet to produce evidence of mail-voting fraud in court. Interestingly, despite his criticisms of mail voting, Trump himself voted by mail in Florida this year.
This article was originally written by www.npr.org
