Trump administration asks Supreme Court to allow mail-in ballot restrictions ahead of midterms

The Trump administration has asked the US Supreme Court to let it enforce new restrictions on mail-in voting ahead of November's midterm elections. The emergency appeal was filed on Sunday, two days after a federal judge blocked the US Postal Service from carrying out the order. The dispute centres on whether the federal government can require new handling rules for postal ballots while states continue to run elections.

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US District Judge Indira Talwani ruled on Friday that the executive order was likely unconstitutional. She said the timing, with about two months left before election day, threatened to disenfranchise millions of people who vote by mail. The administration is seeking temporary permission for the Postal Service to track mail-in ballots and decide whether they can be rejected.

In its filing, the government argued that the rule would impose only modest envelope-design and addressee-information requirements. The case has immediate practical consequences because some states have already begun sending postal ballots. That means any change in the rules could affect election administration while voting preparations are already under way.

The filing also raises the prospect of a rapid Supreme Court intervention in a dispute that touches on the balance between federal authority and state control over elections. The legal fight comes against the backdrop of a long-running division in the United States over mail voting, ballot access and election administration. Under the US system, states are responsible for running elections, including those for federal office, while federal agencies have limited roles.

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The administration's argument is that the Postal Service would not be taking over state election functions, but would instead be applying preparation requirements for ballots sent through the mail. The judge's ruling and the emergency appeal place the Supreme Court at the centre of a case with possible national implications for the midterms. If the justices act quickly, they could decide whether the Postal Service may begin enforcing the new rule while the broader constitutional challenge continues.

If they do not, the lower court order will remain in place as states continue preparing and mailing ballots. What remains unclear is how quickly the Supreme Court will respond and whether any temporary order will be issued before more ballots are sent. It is also not yet clear how many states would be affected by the proposed restrictions or how election officials would adjust if the rule is allowed to take effect.

The case is likely to remain closely watched because it could shape the handling of mail-in ballots during the final stretch before the midterms.

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