Overview
- U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a 14‑day temporary restraining order Thursday that prevents the Postal Service from enforcing central parts of its final mail‑ballot rule.
- The USPS had published the rule on Aug. 21 and said it was in effect, but Talwani’s order pauses implementation while she considers whether to extend the block at a Sept. 3 hearing.
- The rule would have required states to submit lists of mail‑ballot recipients to a USPS portal, use unique barcodes on outbound and return envelopes, and allowed USPS to decline delivery of non‑compliant ballots.
- Talwani wrote that plaintiffs are likely to prevail on claims the rule unlawfully intrudes on state election authority, noting the administration provided no evidence of widespread mail‑ballot fraud and that the rule risks disenfranchising voters.
- The case is headed for fast appeals and could return to the Supreme Court, and the legal fight raises broader questions about federal power over elections and practical strains on states that mail ballots early.