Courts Block Trump USPS Mail-Ballot Rules

U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols blocked the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing new mail-ballot rules late on a Sunday. Based in Washington and appointed by President Donald Trump, Nichols issued a preliminary injunction at the Democratic Party's request. He ruled that the Postal Service lacks statutory authority to implement significant parts of the rule. The rule was developed under Trump’s executive order and would require Postal Service approval of ballot-envelope designs and compel election officials to submit voter and barcode information through a federal portal. What is contested and who says what: Nichols ruled the Postal Service lacks statutory authority for significant parts of the rule. The administration asked the Supreme Court to intervene. A federal appeals court upheld a separate injunction blocking the rules. The Supreme Court is considering whether to revive parts of the policy. The November midterm elections, with a November 3 date noted in coverage, are the upcoming vote at issue. The administration’s request leaves the Supreme Court as the next step on the policy.