Legal battle over mail ballots intensifies
The Trump administration has renewed its request to the Supreme Court to permit new restrictions on mail ballots, following a federal judge's preliminary injunction. U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended the order against the Postal Service enforcing President Donald Trump's executive order for the November elections on Friday.[S1]
The legal dispute unfolds as states begin distributing mail ballots, leaving minimal time for adjustments. Solicitor General John Sauer pointed out that North Carolina has already sent ballots, with Alabama starting September 9 and at least five more states the following week. He contended that once ballots are in the mail, they cannot be recovered, and the injunction creates uncertainty by making compliance optional.[S1]
Administration's third appeal
This request is the administration's third attempt to get the Supreme Court involved. The Court has permitted the plan to continue but has not decided on its legality. The outcome could significantly affect the upcoming elections, where control of Congress is at stake, with nearly one-third of American voters using mail ballots.[S1]
Democratic states and voting rights groups argue the changes are unconstitutional, and election officials say there isn't enough time to revise their systems. The administration frames the restrictions as commonsense changes within its power to regulate the mail, and Sauer emphasized that the Postal Service will not play a role in determining voter eligibility or counting ballots.[S1]
Longstanding effort to limit mail voting
Trump has consistently tried to restrict mail voting, despite frequently using it himself. He has baselessly attributed his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden to mail balloting, spreading unfounded fraud allegations. So far, he has not succeeded in altering the long-established voting process.[S1]
