[UPDATE] Supreme Court weighs letting USPS enforce blocked mail-ballot rules ahead of November
Lower courts blocked requirements for envelope approvals, barcodes and voter-list uploads.
The rules require federal approval of envelope designs, barcodes and voter-list uploads, but the Postal Service said on Sept. 3 that the federal portal is not yet online.
PREVIOUSLY
- Aug. 26 — A federal judge permitted USPS to publish its mail-ballot rule after the Supreme Court lifted an earlier nationwide block 6-3.
- Aug. 27 — 24 states and D.C. sued in Boston to block the postal restrictions, alleging USPS lacks authority over mail ballots.
- Aug. 29 — A Boston judge blocked USPS from rejecting noncompliant mail ballots for 14 days, prompting a Justice Department appeal.
Implementation issues:
- Election-law scholar Rick Hasen warned that imposing the rules shortly before the election could cause mass disenfranchisement.