Mail-in voting restrictions face defense from Attorney General Todd Blanche against legal challenges led by California Gov. Gavin Newsom. The efforts follow a 6-3 decision by the Supreme Court favoring the restrictions. Blanche communicated via ‘America’s Newsroom’ that the Department of Justice is resolute in its mission to uphold election integrity as midterm elections near.
With an eye on the forthcoming November midterms, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro has allied with attorneys general from 23 states and Washington, D.C., filing a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service over a rule endorsed by the Trump administration. This regulation introduces new federal protocols for states managing mail ballots. Shapiro declared on X, “I’m suing the Trump Administration to stop their unconstitutional attempt to change the rules and restrict mail-in voting.”
Shapiro insists on maintaining Pennsylvania’s policy on mail-in voting, reassuring voters they can continue voting via mail securely. He argues that the Constitution allocates the power to set election rules to states, not the federal government.
The state coalition resumed court proceedings days after the Supreme Court stayed an injunction from a Massachusetts federal judge, which challenged Trump’s executive order on mail-voting. The Supreme Court found the initial lawsuit premature, noting USPS had yet to finalize the rule.
A major win for the security of American elections was the Supreme Court’s decision, states White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis. She suggested that Democrats opposing these measures jeopardize the security of mail-in ballots, vital for electing American leaders.
The USPS’s finalized “Ballot Mail for Federal Elections” rule requires state and local election officials to utilize a USPS portal to submit details on prospective mail-in ballot recipients. This system aims to compile state-specific registered voter lists and mandates design features such as trackable barcodes.
In their 53-page complaint, the states contend that these rules improperly assign USPS a role in overseeing elections. They argue that Congress, rather than the president or Postal Service, holds authority over election rule alterations. Additionally, USPS bypassed major change review processes.
The states seek a court injunction to block the rule, escalating the case after addressing the timing concern raised by the Supreme Court. Although a previous Massachusetts injunction briefly obstructed the USPS’s action, it was lifted post-ruling.
The court noted that ‘no law enacted by Congress delegates authority to control mail-in voting to USPS’ and deemed Presidential directives regarding USPS as ultra vires.
The Supreme Court’s stay on the injunction did not signify meritless claims but a lack of standing, noted the states. USPS commenced the EO, and upon final rule publication, states may bolster their challenge.
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