A federal judge on Friday extended a block on the U.S. Postal Service’s ability to limit mail-in voting, this time through Election Day, Nov. 3.
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani’s ruling replaces an earlier temporary restraining order in the protracted legal battle over President Donald Trump’s order to crack down on mail-in voting. The decision, handed down 60 days before Election Day, further delays implementation of a rule allowing the Postal Service to compare mail-in ballots to the federal government’s list of eligible voters.
“The court concludes that disenfranchisement for Plaintiff Organizations’ members, regardless of residence, is practically inevitable,” Talwani wrote in the Friday ruling.
The judge added that the immediate implementation of the rules “threatens disenfranchisement of millions of United States citizens who seek to vote by mail,” while the record contained “no evidence relating to fraudulent mail voting to support the rushed implementation.”
Trending
The ruling also noted that USPS’s portal for absentee voters’ information is not yet operational, though the agency plans to make it available “sometime next week” — deeply concerning for state election officials who need to pull off the changes before November, Talwani wrote.
Her ruling does not preclude states from voluntarily complying with the administration’s guidance, consistent with their local laws.
The Trump administration appealed Talwani’s earlier restraining order and will likely do the same for Friday’s extension. The Justice Department on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to allow the Postal Service to enforce its new rule.
North Carolina began sending out mail-in ballots on Friday, and several other states will similarly begin the early voting process soon.
Author
