Democratic states sue over mail-in voting order
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
23 Democratic-led states sued Wednesday to block USPS mail-ballot rules. The Supreme Court had just ruled their earlier suit premature, but the new rules take effect before November.
Background
In March, President Trump signed an executive order directing the U.S. Postal Service to create 'state citizenship lists' and withhold mail ballots from voters not on those lists. Democratic officials in 23 states and D.C. sued, arguing the president lacks authority over election rules. A federal judge blocked the order, but the Supreme Court on Monday lifted that block, saying the states sued too early. The administration then issued a final rule requiring states to submit voter lists to USPS and pre-approve ballot envelope designs, prompting the new lawsuit.
How it unfolded
- Mar 2026President Trump signs executive order directing USPS to create 'state citizenship lists' and restrict mail-in ballot delivery.
- Aug 11, 2026League of Women Voters and other groups file a case against the executive order; a federal judge in Massachusetts blocks it for plaintiff states.
- Aug 24, 2026Supreme Court lifts the lower court's block, ruling the states' lawsuit was premature, but does not rule on the order's legality.
- Aug 26, 202623 Democratic-led states and D.C. file a new lawsuit in Boston federal court challenging the USPS final rule, seeking an emergency block before ballots go out.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- California Attorney General said the rule is 'an unlawful overreach' and that 'the facts and the law are on our side.'
- Official
- New York AG Letitia James said the policy 'will just create confusion, unnecessary costs, and unacceptable risks for voters.'
- Official
- The Trump administration argues the Supreme Court's ruling allows it to proceed with the USPS rule, and the Justice Department is seeking to lift an injunction.
Still unverified
The Supreme Court did not rule on the legality of Trump's order, only that the states sued too early; the new lawsuit challenges the USPS final rule, but its outcome is pending.