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Politics

Blanche defends mail ballot rules amid court blocks and election probes

The Justice Department is reviewing state election practices while courts block proposed Postal Service rules.

Updated Sep 15, 2026 · 21:06 UTC2 reports

The short version

  • Attorney General Todd Blanche defended stricter mail voting regulations that require approved envelopes, unique barcodes, and recipient lists from states.[CBS News]
  • Federal courts and the Supreme Court have blocked the Postal Service from enforcing the rules for the upcoming midterms.[CBS News]
  • Blanche stated the Justice Department is examining state election practices and investigating non-citizen voting claims.[CBS News]

Key facts

  • The Supreme Court declined to lift a federal judge's injunction, leaving new mail ballot restrictions blocked for the upcoming midterm elections.[CBS News]
  • The August 21 rule requires states to issue USPS-approved ballot envelopes with unique barcodes and submit recipient lists to the Postal Service.[CBS News]
  • The Justice Department instructed 29 states and D.C. to preserve 2024 election records and filed suits for voter-registration data.[CBS News]
  • A 2025 multi-election analysis found approximately four identified mail-ballot fraud cases per 10 million mail ballots cast.[CBS News]

What remains uncertain

  • Attorney General Blanche cited 'common sense' rather than specific study data when asserting mail voting carries heightened fraud risks.[CBS News]
  • The exact scope and outcome of hundreds of claimed investigations into non-citizens allegedly voting remain unverified.[CBS News]

Sources

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