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States tell Supreme Court that postal ballot regulations are unworkable

The Washington Sun reports that 23 states warned the high court against reinstating contested postal rules.

The short version

  • A coalition of 23 states, Washington, D.C., and advocacy groups asked the Supreme Court to keep a block on new Postal Service mail-in ballot regulations.[The Washington Sun]
  • The Trump administration is seeking to overturn a lower court order that paused key requirements through the November 3 election.[The Washington Sun]
  • Election officials warned that compliance risks technical failures and disenfranchisement because the Postal Service has not finished necessary systems.[The Washington Sun]

Key facts

  • The Trump administration petitioned the Supreme Court to lift an injunction blocking portions of the USPS ballot rule through Election Day.[The Washington Sun]
  • Twenty-three states, Washington, D.C., and voting rights organizations submitted filings arguing that complying with the rule would be a herculean task.[The Washington Sun]
  • State filings indicated that the Postal Service has failed to develop essential elements of the infrastructure needed to execute the rule.[The Washington Sun]
  • California reported that its statewide voter registration system cannot currently receive and process the required Intelligent Mail barcode information.[The Washington Sun]
  • Wisconsin election officials stated to the court that meeting the rule ahead of their September 17 ballot distribution deadline would be impossible.[The Washington Sun]

What remains uncertain

  • It remains unknown whether the Supreme Court will grant the Trump administration's request to lift the stay before the November election.[The Washington Sun]

Sources

Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.