Judge again blocks Trump mail ballot executive order in ruling that’s likely to be swiftly appealed (AUDIO)

(AP) – A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from enforcing new rules governing the delivery of mail-in ballots, creating a likely temporary legal setback for the president’s effort to establish uniform standards for absentee voting ahead of the midterm elections.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani ordered the government to pause implementation of the policy for two weeks. Her decision came roughly one week before states are expected to begin sending out their first mail ballots.

The ruling does not decide whether President Trump’s executive order is constitutional. Instead, it keeps the government from putting the new Postal Service requirements into effect while the court considers the case.

The dispute could quickly return to the Supreme Court. Just days ago, the court’s conservative majority lifted an earlier injunction issued by Talwani, ruling that challenges to the president’s order had been filed before the administration had formally explained how it would be implemented.

The administration has now issued that formal rule, restarting the legal fight.

Under the Postal Service’s policy, states would need to provide a list of voters who should receive mail ballots and use specific formatting for ballot envelopes. The administration says the requirements are designed to bring greater consistency to a voting system that varies widely from state to state and has become a major focus of election-integrity debates.

Critics, including Democratic-led states and voting-rights organizations, argue that the president and the Postal Service lack authority to impose the changes.

Talwani’s ruling focused heavily on timing. She wrote that states do not have enough time or money to redesign ballots, obtain approval for new formats, order replacement materials, update election-management systems, train election workers and upload voter information before the midterms.

Nearly one-third of Americans vote by mail, according to election data, meaning the policy could affect millions of voters and election offices across the country.

The Trump administration maintains that its actions are aimed at protecting election security and ensuring that mail ballots are handled under clear, enforceable standards. President Trump has repeatedly questioned the reliability of expanded mail voting, particularly after the 2020 election.

In this case, a hearing is scheduled for September third. Depending on the outcome, the dispute is likely to return to the Supreme Court, where the justices may eventually be asked to decide whether the administration’s mail-ballot standards are lawful.

For now, the judge’s order preserves the existing rules while the courts weigh the administration’s argument that nationwide voting standards are necessary—and opponents’ claim that election procedures remain primarily a state responsibility.

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