DOJ to Defend Trump Mail-In Voting Limits
The Department of Justice (DOJ) plans to defend mail-in voting restrictions supported by former President Donald Trump. Attorney General Todd Blanche will face legal challenges from California Governor Gavin Newsom following a notable 6-3 Supreme Court decision. Blanche emphasized that the DOJ is prepared to uphold election integrity and secure the voting process as the midterm elections approach.
Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro has joined forces with attorneys general from 23 states and Washington, D.C., to sue the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). They oppose a Trump-backed rule imposing new federal requirements for state mail ballot preparation and dispatch. Shapiro wrote on X that he is suing the Trump administration to block what he deems an unconstitutional effort to alter mail-in voting rules. His objective is to protect Pennsylvania’s elections, maintaining that voting by mail remains safe and secure.
The coalition of states returned to court after the Supreme Court’s decision to stay an injunction from a Massachusetts federal judge. This injunction was against significant parts of Trump’s mail-voting executive order. The Court found the states’ initial challenge was premature, as USPS had not issued a final rule when they filed suit.
A White House spokeswoman, Lauren Bis, stated that the Supreme Court ruling supports secure American elections. She criticized Democrats for opposing measures that ensure the security of mail-in ballots. The Trump administration intends to continue legally implementing the agenda that includes election safety.
The USPS rule, “Ballot Mail for Federal Elections,” went into effect last week. It mandates state and local election officials to submit data on mail-in ballot recipients to a USPS portal. The portal will compile state-specific voter lists. This rule also outlines mail-in ballot design requirements like trackable barcodes and requires envelope design submissions for USPS pre-approval.
The states argue in their complaint that the rule gives USPS an inappropriate role in elections, forcing officials to adopt new procedures and possibly replace already-purchased envelopes. They assert that Congress, not the president or Postal Service, should have authority over election rules. They claim that USPS avoided a necessary review for substantial national changes.
The coalition seeks a court order to block the rule while the lawsuit unfolds. They want it dismissed, believing their new challenge addresses the Supreme Court’s previous concerns. A Massachusetts injunction temporarily blocked USPS from applying these rules for the midterms, but was lifted following the Supreme Court’s ruling.
The court stated that Congress has not authorized USPS to control mail-in voting. While the injunction was lifted, it was not due to a lack of merit in the states’ claims but a standing issue. The states argue that if USPS implements the executive order in a way that harms them, they can challenge it.
The USPS did not provide a comment to Fox News Digital before publication.