US court blocks new mail-ballot rules

Washington, Aug 29 (IANS) A US federal judge has temporarily blocked new Postal Service requirements for mail-in ballots after a coalition of 25 states warned that the changes could disenfranchise eligible voters weeks before the November midterm elections.

The temporary restraining order stops the US Postal Service from implementing requirements involving voter lists, ballot-envelope designs and federal approval of election materials while the legal challenge proceeds.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, who joined the multistate lawsuit, announced the order on Friday.

“This is a win for every Arizona voter and the rule of law,” Mayes said.

“Arizonans have voted safely and securely by mail for decades. In a system designed by Republicans, at least three-quarters of Arizona voters choose to vote by mail. Today the court agreed that the federal government cannot upend our election system just weeks before ballots go out.”

The court found that complying with the rule before the November 3 elections was “practically impossible”, according to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

States would have to redesign and produce ballot materials, modify election systems, train state and local officials and upload large quantities of voter information to a new federal portal.

Some states are legally required to begin mailing ballots as early as next week. Several have already ordered their ballots and envelopes.

The judge found that the absence of clear deadlines for Postal Service approval created a significant risk that eligible voters could be denied ballots.

President Donald Trump directed the Postal Service to develop the standards in a March 31 executive order intended to strengthen citizenship verification and integrity in federal elections.

The order instructed the Postal Service to establish uniform requirements for absentee and mail-in ballots. These included the use of official election-mail markings, automation-compatible envelopes and unique barcodes allowing ballots to be tracked.

The Postal Service formally published its final rule on August 26 after making it available for public inspection five days earlier.

Under the rule, states would provide the Postal Service with information about voters eligible to receive mail-in ballots. The agency would then compile state-specific participation lists.

Ballot envelopes would also have to comply with new design requirements and receive Postal Service approval. According to the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, the agency would not deliver ballots to voters missing from the lists or accept envelopes failing to meet the standards.

The Postal Service defended the rule as an effort to enforce federal law and improve the preparation and handling of ballot mail.

It said it had received and reviewed numerous public comments from election officials, officeholders, postal unions, election organisations and members of the public before issuing the final regulation.

The agency said states would retain authority to determine who was eligible to vote and whether a voter qualified to cast a ballot by mail.

The rule applies to ballots used in federal general, special and run-off elections. It does not cover primary elections, ballots used exclusively in state or local contests, or ballots governed by the law protecting absentee voting rights for military personnel and Americans living overseas.

Mayes and officials from 24 other states filed their lawsuit on August 26. They argued that the Postal Service lacked legal authority to impose the requirements and that the Constitution gives states primary responsibility for administering elections.

The coalition is seeking a preliminary injunction that would prevent the rule from taking effect until the court reaches a final decision.

The temporary restraining order does not decide the legality of the rule. It preserves existing voting procedures while the judge considers the states’ request for longer-lasting relief.

Mail-in voting rules vary widely across the United States. Some states automatically send ballots to registered voters, while others require voters to request them or provide a qualifying reason.

Disputes over postal voting intensified after the 2020 presidential election. Trump and his allies have repeatedly questioned the security of widespread mail voting. At the same time, election officials have maintained that safeguards such as signature checks, tracking systems and ballot-verification procedures protect the process.

–IANS

lkj/dan