Trump Administration Returns to Supreme Court Over Mail-In Ballot Postal Rules

A new emergency filing as states mail ballots

The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to pause a federal judge’s order in Massachusetts that bars the government from carrying out parts of a U.S. Postal Service rule affecting mail-in ballots. The filing arrives as some states have begun sending ballots.

The Justice Department says the Postal Service rule is a lawful operations change. Challengers say the change would restrict how mailed ballots move through the postal system close to Election Day.

Lower-court timeline

A district judge blocked portions of the rule before the justices acted. A separate ruling earlier this week also blocked a set of mail-ballot procedures while appeals continued.

In June, the Court upheld a Mississippi law that counts mail ballots postmarked by Election Day if they arrive within five business days. The new case concerns federal postal handling rather than that state deadline statute.