First Circuit Court Rejects Trump Administration's Appeal to Lift USPS Mail-Ballot Injunction
The U. S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit on September 10 denied the Trump administration’s request to lift a district court injunction that blocks a new Postal Service rule governing the design of mail-ballot envelopes, saying the rule likely violates the Constitution and could disenfranchise voters. The panel affirmed the lower court’s finding that the regulation exceeds the agency’s authority. The Justice Department had earlier petitioned the Supreme Court to restore the rule, arguing it was needed before the November midterm elections.
U. S. District Judge Indira Talwani had issued multiple injunctions, including a temporary restraining order and later extensions, citing insufficient time for states and constitutional concerns. The legal fight follows whistleblower warnings that the hastily built online portal for processing absentee ballots was untested and could cause widespread delays, and top USPS officials had raised objections to the draft regulations.
