The administration seeks Supreme Court intervention to implement new U.S. Postal Service mail ballot requirements for the midterm elections.

The administration is seeking a stay from the U.S. Supreme Court to allow new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) mail ballot requirements to take effect for the upcoming midterm elections. These rules, prompted by an executive order from President Trump, require state and local election officials to submit voter lists to an online portal and use specific ballot envelope designs, including unique barcodes for each voter. While the administration argues these changes will improve delivery and help detect potential voter fraud, many state election officials have expressed concern over the logistics. A preliminary injunction from a. U.S. District Court judge has temporarily blocked the rules, leading many states to proceed with traditional mail ballot processes. Some officials, such as Connor Fitzpatrick in Montana, noted that the time to implement such dramatic changes has passed, and many jurisdictions are already printing ballots without the new barcodes. If the Supreme Court upholds the administration's request, election officials may face significant costs and logistical challenges to adjust their systems in time for the midterm cycle.

Sources

• NPR
  Mail-in voters weigh flying to vote in person and other backup plans amid uncertainty
• AP News
  Midterm mail ballots start to go to voters as litigation over Trump’s order creates uncertainty
• Just Security
  The Simplest Way for the Supreme Court to Rule in the USPS Mail Ballots Case
• Montana Free Press
  Montana’s mail ballot envelopes won’t bear Trump’s stamp

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Paywall and unreadable sources

• The New York Times
  What Could Go Wrong?