Gov. Shapiro and Liberal States Sue to Undermine Election Security Measures
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Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has joined 23 left-leaning states and Washington, D.C. in a lawsuit opposing a new U.S. Postal Service rule that aims to enhance the integrity of mail-in voting ahead of the November midterms.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro announced he is joining attorneys general from 23 predominantly liberal states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit targeting the U.S. Postal Service over a recently finalized rule designed to bring much-needed accountability to mail-in ballots. The rule, 'Ballot Mail for Federal Elections,' requires election officials to submit recipient information and ballot-envelope designs to a USPS portal for approval, and mandates the use of trackable barcodes on mail-in ballots—common-sense measures to prevent fraud and ensure election integrity.
The states argue that the rule expands the Postal Service's role in elections and forces officials to adopt new procedures and share voter data, while bypassing congressional authority over election regulations. In their 53-page complaint, they claim that Congress, not the president or the Postal Service, should set election rules, and accuse the Postal Service of failing to follow bureaucratic review processes for operational changes.
This coalition is seeking a court order to block the rule, hoping to prevent necessary reforms from taking effect before the midterms. Their filing follows a recent Supreme Court decision that stayed an earlier injunction against parts of the Trump administration's mail-voting executive order, a ruling that was based on procedural timing rather than the merits of the case.
'I’m suing the Trump Administration to stop their unconstitutional attempt to change the rules and restrict mail-in voting,' Shapiro wrote on X, signaling his intent to keep the door open for questionable voting practices under the guise of protecting 'free, fair, safe and secure elections.'
The White House defended the administration’s position, rightly asserting that the Supreme Court ruling was a win for election security and that the administration would continue to prioritize safeguarding the vote.
The Postal Service, focused on implementing these important reforms, did not provide comment before publication.