Overview
- The Justice Department filed an emergency application with the U.S. Supreme Court Monday asking justices to allow President Trump’s March executive order to take effect before the November midterms.
- The order directs DHS, USCIS and the Social Security Administration to compile state-by-state 'citizenship lists' and tells the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail ballots only to people on those lists while threatening to withhold federal funds from noncompliant states.
- Federal courts are divided: the 1st U.S. Circuit in Boston upheld a block on the order for 23 plaintiff states and Washington, D.C., while a D.C. Circuit panel declined to enjoin the order now but warned it may be infeasible and could be quickly halted if agencies implement it unlawfully.
- The American Postal Workers Union says postal IT staff are preparing an online portal to support the plan, but ongoing injunctions and appeals mean implementation is uncertain and likely to be litigated in different states.
- If the Supreme Court acts quickly responses are due by Aug. 3, and the dispute raises core federalism and voter-access questions because court rulings and agency moves could produce a patchwork that confuses voters and election officials before the midterms.