Appeals Court Blocks Trump Administration’s Mail Ballot Rules

A federal appeals court has blocked the Trump administration’s proposed changes to mail ballot rules ahead of the midterm elections. The First Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a lower court’s order that prevents the implementation of these new regulations.

The appellate panel, consisting of Judges Gustavo A. Gelpí, Julie Rikelman, and Seth Aframe, emphasized the potential for voter disenfranchisement. They noted that the Trump administration did not sufficiently demonstrate how the new U.S. Postal Service rule would avoid causing widespread disruption and disenfranchisement.

This rule could likely result in the disenfranchisement of millions of voters while providing minimal gains in combating voter fraud, the judges wrote. They rejected claims of past fraud associated with mail voting, citing the lack of evidence for such allegations.

The court determined that the Postal Service’s final rule was likely unlawful, as it attempted to regulate election procedures, a responsibility traditionally assigned to states and Congress by the Constitution. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani had previously issued an injunction blocking the rule, arguing its unconstitutionality and potential for significant voter disenfranchisement.

The proposed rule required specific design requirements for mail ballots, including unique barcodes and using an online portal for voter information. Voters would be enrolled with the Postal Service’s lists, and postal workers would verify ballot mail compliance. Non-complying ballot mailings would be returned.

The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court to stay Talwani’s injunction, defending the rule as a lawful exercise of the Postal Service’s authority. The legal debate continues as the Supreme Court has yet to decide on intervening in the case.