US judge extends block on USPS mail voting rule before November polls

A federal judge in Boston extended a ban on a new USPS mail ballot rule ahead of the November elections. The order keeps disputed voter list and barcode requirements on hold as states begin mailing ballots.Trump mail voting rule blocked again by Boston federal judge. ( Photo- Reuters)A federal judge in Boston on Friday extended a ban preventing President Donald Trump’s administration from enforcing a new US Postal Service rule that would tighten mail-in voting requirements ahead of the November congressional elections.US District Judge Indira Talwani issued the injunction at the request of Democratic-led states and voting rights groups, as the first state in the country began sending out mail ballots for the elections.Talwani last week issued a 14-day temporary restraining order blocking implementation of the USPS rule while she considered whether to impose a longer-term injunction. The Trump administration on Thursday asked the US Supreme Court to intervene and lift the order.The Supreme Court’s conservative majority had last week lifted an earlier order by Talwani that had prevented USPS from imposing similar restrictions. The USPS introduced the new rule to implement an executive order signed by Trump in March. Trump has for years called for tighter restrictions on mail-in voting and has falsely claimed that widespread voter fraud contributed to his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.Under the new rule, states would be required to provide USPS with lists of mail-ballot recipients, while outbound and return ballot envelopes would have to carry unique barcodes. USPS could refuse to deliver ballots that fail to meet the new standards or are linked to voters who do not appear on the lists.Voting rights groups and several Democratic-led states have argued that the rule could disenfranchise voters and was adopted in violation of the US Constitution, which gives states authority over the administration of elections.Justice Department lawyers have argued that USPS has clear authority to impose what they described as modest requirements for envelope design. They said state election officials would continue to control eligibility for voting by mail.All 50 states permit some form of mail-in voting. Twenty-nine states allow voters to request mail ballots without providing a reason, while eight conduct elections entirely by mail. North Carolina on Friday became the first state to send out ballots for the November elections.Critics have warned that allowing the rule to take effect so close to the elections could force state election offices to overhaul their systems within weeks. Many states have already printed their ballots and envelopes.A USPS official said in a court filing on Thursday that an online portal intended for states to upload voter lists was not yet operational. The official said it could become available during the week of September 7.An anonymous federal official, identified as a whistleblower, also alleged in a statement released Tuesday by Democratic US Senator Richard Blumenthal that USPS was rushing to implement a hastily developed system that could disrupt the delivery of mail ballots.The Trump administration had separately asked the 1st US Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn Talwani’s initial restraining order. The appeals court had not ruled on that request before Talwani issued her latest decision.- EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Sep 5, 2026 03:44 IST