Trump administration asks Supreme Court to reinstate mail ballot rules before midterms

The Trump administration is escalating a legal battle over USPS rules intended to curb mail-in voting, asking the Supreme Court to lift a district-court block and allow enforcement ahead of the November midterms. A Boston judge had paused the new rule, which would require states to provide voter lists, enforce envelope-design and addressee-information standards, and enable the USPS to decline ballots that don’t comply, prompting emergency appeals to the justices. Critics warn the measures could disrupt thousands of legitimate votes and disproportionately affect Democratic-leaning voters, while whistleblower allegations have raised concerns about testing and implementation of the system. The administration has argued the changes regulate the mail, not federal elections, and that states retain election authority, while some courts have previously granted temporary relief or intervention, leaving the ultimate legality unresolved. North Carolina and Alabama are among states preparing to mail ballots in early September, underscoring the near-term stakes as the courts weigh the policy. The unfolding petitions highlight a broader clash over federal involvement in election administration just weeks before the midterms.