US Postal Service appeals order halting mail-in ballot curbs

Greg Stohr and Zoe Tillman, Bloomberg News on Aug 28, 2026

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WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is appealing a judge’s order halting new U.S. Postal Service restrictions on mail-in ballots, moving quickly to reinstate the challenged rules after they were paused in a high-stakes clash that could shape the November midterms and the fight to control Congress.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ruled Thursday night that the restrictions were probably unconstitutional and that it would be “practically impossible” for states to comply in time for the Nov. 3 election. One of the states suing over the plan, North Carolina, is set to start mailing ballots as early as Sept. 4.

The Justice Department filed notice Friday that it is appealing Talwani’s order. The issue could quickly move back to the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled Aug. 24 that an earlier state suit was premature. The legal fight tests whether the administration is unconstitutionally infringing on the states’ leading role in managing federal elections.

President Donald Trump says he is acting to stop ineligible voters from casting ballots, though such instances historically are rare. Critics say the president is trying to stoke chaos and undermine confidence in an election that could see Democrats seize control of Congress.

Talwani’s order blocked the core of the Postal Service regulations for 14 days. The new rules would empower postal authorities to refuse to deliver mail-in ballots if state election officials don’t comply with revised design guidelines and don’t provide information on the voters set to receive them in a federal “portal.” The envelopes would have to include unique barcodes that match voter records provided to the Postal Service.

The Boston-based judge has scheduled a hearing for Sept. 3 to consider imposing a longer-term block.

The cases are California v. U.S. Postal Service, 26-cv-13917, and League of Women Voters of Massachusetts v. Trump, 26-cv-11549, US District Court, District of Massachusetts (Boston).