The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the U.S. Postal Service permission to proceed with a Trump administration rule to restrict mail-in ballots.

The D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously ruled on Friday that the U.S. Postal Service may move forward with a new rule to tighten control over mail-in and absentee ballots. The three-judge panel paused a lower-court injunction that had previously blocked the agency from finalizing the policy. The court noted that the Postal Service would suffer "irreparable harm" if the rule were not implemented before the November elections, stating there can be "no do over" once the vote occurs. The rule, stemming from an executive order by the administration, would allow the Postal Service to withhold ballots in states that fail to provide detailed, eligible voter lists. While the NAACP argued the move violates a 2021 settlement to prioritize timely delivery, the appeals court found the challenge was not yet ripe for review. Although a separate judge in Massachusetts still maintains a block on the policy, this ruling provides a procedural victory for the administration, allowing the agency to continue its efforts to standardize ballot delivery while legal challenges continue.

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