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Politics

Democratic states file new lawsuit against USPS mail ballot rules

Twenty-five state attorneys general are challenging a new Postal Service requirement issued following a Supreme Court ruling.

The short version

  • A coalition of 25 Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service over new mail ballot delivery rules.
  • The administration's rule requires states to get federal approval for ballot envelope designs and submit lists of eligible mail voters to the Postal Service.
  • Election officials warned the restrictions cannot be implemented before mail ballots begin going out next week.

Key facts

  • Twenty-five Democratic state attorneys general filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service challenging a new rule governing mail ballot delivery.[Associated Press]
  • The Supreme Court recently dismissed a previous lawsuit by Democratic states as premature without ruling on the legality of President Trump's executive order.[Associated Press]
  • The new Postal Service rule requires states to obtain federal approval for ballot envelope designs and provide lists of eligible mail voters to receive delivery service.[Associated Press]
  • A separate federal injunction issued in a suit by the League of Women Voters currently bars Trump's executive order from taking effect.[Associated Press]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains uncertain whether federal courts will grant a new injunction blocking the Postal Service rule before mail ballots are distributed.[Associated Press]
  • It is unknown if U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani will rescind her active August 11 injunction following the Supreme Court's ruling.[Associated Press]

Sources