New requirements for mailing federal election ballots through the US Postal Service cannot be implemented before November’s midterm elections under a US Supreme Court ruling.
The court rejected the government’s request to lift a lower-court ruling that temporarily suspended the rules. The justices also said the government was unlikely to succeed in its appeal of the district court’s preliminary injunction.
Insufficient time for election officials
Justice Brett Kavanaugh, who joined the ruling, said state and local election officials did not have enough time to implement the new requirements before the elections.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented. The two justices argued that the government had shown the rules fell within the US Postal Service’s authority and said the regulations should be allowed to take effect.
As a result, the new requirements for ballots sent by mail will remain suspended until the ongoing legal challenge is resolved.
Trump’s election regulations
President Donald Trump intensified his efforts to change US election rules in April. Trump signed an executive order aimed at creating state voter-eligibility lists and instructed the US Postal Service to limit mailed ballots to verified voters.
Trump also reiterated on Monday his promise to pay adult US citizens $5,000 if Republicans win majorities in both chambers of Congress.