Overview
- A three‑judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 1st Circuit, which ruled on Thursday, refused the administration’s request to lift a lower‑court injunction stopping key parts of the USPS rule from taking effect before November.
- The rule stems from a March executive order and would force states to upload voter lists to a federal portal require federal sign‑off on envelope designs and place barcodes on every ballot envelope.
- The appeals judges wrote there is no record evidence of past or likely fraud and said implementing the rule now would likely disenfranchise millions while offering minimal fraud prevention.
- The Justice Department has asked the U.S. Supreme Court for emergency relief on an expedited timetable even as some states, including North Carolina, have already begun mailing absentee ballots under current procedures.
- Election officials and an anonymous USPS whistleblower warn the portal, barcode and envelope mandates are technically unready and could delay or block mailed ballots, raising costs and prompting some officials to consider private carriers or alternative voter outreach.