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Appeals Court upholds block on new USPS mail-in voting rules
A federal appeals court has upheld a block on new U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rules that would have changed mail-in voting requirements ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. The First Circuit Court of Appeals declined to lift an injunction issued by District Judge Indira Talwani, who ruled that the rules—stemming from a Trump administration executive order—could disenfranchise millions of voters and likely violate the Constitution by infringing on state authority over elections.
The contested rules would require election officials to submit voter data to a federal portal and mandate specific mailpiece designs, such as trackable barcodes. Critics, including Senator Richard Blumenthal, have characterized the move as a deliberate attempt to suppress the vote. Additionally, a USPS whistleblower has alleged that the IT systems being developed to manage these restrictions are rushed, unreliable, and fundamentally flawed.
While the Trump administration argues these measures are necessary to ensure election honesty, election officials in several states have warned that implementing the changes so close to the election would cause widespread chaos. The U.S. Supreme Court is currently reviewing requests from the administration to allow the rules to take effect.
Entities
Department of Justice · Donald Trump · First Circuit Court of Appeals · Indira Talwani · League of Women Voters · Richard Blumenthal · U.S. Postal Service · U.S. Supreme Court · United States Postal Service
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The proposed rules require states to provide lists of mail-in ballot recipients to the USPS. www.cash.ch · www.n-tv.de · nemosnewsnetwork.com
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Department of Justice argued the changes were merely minor regulations regarding mail delivery. www.cash.ch · www.n-tv.de · nemosnewsnetwork.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The rules mandate that all return envelopes for ballots must feature unique barcodes. www.cash.ch · www.n-tv.de · praisehouston.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com · wolbbaltimore.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The court assessed that the regulation would likely disenfranchise millions of voters while offering minimal benefits in combating fraud. www.cash.ch · www.n-tv.de · nemosnewsnetwork.com · americafirstreport.com
- [● 9 SOURCES] The administration has appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. www.moncloa.com · www.cash.ch · www.moneycab.com · www.n-tv.de · getuperica.com · +4 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] The court ruled that the Constitution grants authority over federal election regulation to states and Congress, not the executive branch. www.moncloa.com · www.cash.ch · www.n-tv.de · nemosnewsnetwork.com · americafirstreport.com
- [● 5 SOURCES] The First Circuit Court of Appeals refused to lift a preliminary injunction blocking new mail-in voting rules. www.moncloa.com · www.cash.ch · www.moneycab.com · www.n-tv.de · nemosnewsnetwork.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] District Judge Indira Talwani issued an injunction halting parts of the USPS rule, stating it could disenfranchise voters and likely violates the Constitution. americafirstreport.com · ca.news.yahoo.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com · 92q.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] Senator Richard Blumenthal characterized the USPS efforts as a deliberate attempt to suppress the vote. republicmonitor.com · keyt.com · kioncentralcoast.com · kesq.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Trump administration argues the executive order and subsequent USPS rules will ensure the honesty of federal elections. americafirstreport.com · nemosnewsnetwork.com
- [● 4 SOURCES] The U.S. Supreme Court is reviewing whether the USPS rules can be implemented for the upcoming midterm elections. americafirstreport.com · www.diebewertung.de · www.rwcpulse.com · ca.news.yahoo.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] Approximately 20 states have already begun or are scheduled to begin mailing ballots to voters within the week. ca.news.yahoo.com · www.diebewertung.de