Trump administration appeals to Supreme Court to enforce mail ballot restrictions

The outcome of this legal challenge determines whether new federal restrictions on mail-in ballot processing will be mandatory or optional for election officials in states currently preparing for the midterms.

• •The Trump administration has filed its third appeal to the Supreme Court regarding mail ballot restrictions.
• •A U.S. District Court judge previously issued an injunction blocking the enforcement of new Postal Service directives regarding mail ballots.
• •The administration argues that the current injunction makes compliance with the new rules voluntary rather than mandatory.
• •States including North Carolina and Alabama have already begun or are scheduled to begin mailing ballots in early September.
• •Nearly one-third of voters in the U.S. cast their ballots by mail.
• •The administration claims the restrictions are within its power to regulate the mail.
• •Opponents, including election officials and Democratic states, argue the changes are unconstitutional and that there is insufficient time to implement them.