US Judge Blocks Trump's Postal Voting Rule

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked the United States Postal Service (USPS) from implementing provisions of President Donald Trump’s executive order tightening postal voting rules ahead of the November midterm elections.

US District Judge for the District of Massachusetts Indira Talwani issued a new preliminary injunction barring USPS from enforcing the provisions nationwide.

The ruling was issued in a case brought by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and several other plaintiffs.

Trump previously signed Executive Order 14399, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” on 31 March.

The order, among other things, instructed USPS to establish requirements for mail-in ballots and absentee ballots. USPS was also asked to refuse delivery of ballots that did not meet the new requirements.

Talwani had previously blocked key provisions of the order in June in 23 states and Washington DC. The latest ruling extends the block to the entire United States.

The US Supreme Court is currently considering the Trump administration’s request to overturn Talwani’s earlier ruling regarding the executive order.

The legal dispute is unfolding ahead of the November midterm elections, when US voters will determine control of the House of Representatives and the Senate.