A federal appeals court dealt a major blow to the Trump administration Thursday, rejecting a new postal service rule that would restrict mail-in voting just weeks before November’s congressional elections. The decision keeps existing ballot procedures in place while the Supreme Court weighs the administration’s emergency appeal to implement the controversial changes.

Court Finds Constitutional Overreach

The three-judge panel on the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously upheld a lower court injunction blocking the U.S. Postal Service rule. The judges, all appointed by former President Joe Biden, rejected the Justice Department’s characterization of the regulation as modest, saying officials were focusing on the trees while ignoring the forest. The panel concluded that under the Constitution, states and Congress hold authority to regulate elections, not the executive branch.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani originally blocked the rule Friday after lawsuits from voting rights organizations and Democratic-led states. The judge found the regulation risked disenfranchising voters and violated constitutional principles giving states control over election administration. The appeals court agreed, stating the lower court correctly determined the rule would likely disenfranchise millions of voters across the country while providing minimal gains in combating voter fraud.

New Requirements Draw Scrutiny

The postal service rule stems from an executive order President Trump signed in March, continuing his years-long campaign for stricter mail voting standards. Under the proposed changes, states must provide USPS with lists of mail ballot recipients, and all ballot envelopes must display unique barcodes. The postal service could refuse delivering ballots failing to meet new standards or associated with voters not appearing on official lists.

California Attorney General Rob Bonta, who helped lead the legal challenge, praised the ruling for rejecting the Trump administration’s latest attempt to disrupt mail voting. Postmaster General David Steiner defended the agency’s actions, insisting USPS has at all times acted within legal authority. The administration moved with unusual speed, asking the Supreme Court to intervene before the appeals court even issued its decision.

Whistleblower Allegations Surface

A federal whistleblower statement released by Senator Richard Blumenthal on September 1 alleged the postal service was rushing to implement a hastily created system risking disruption of mail ballot delivery during the election. All 50 states currently allow some form of mail voting, with 29 states permitting no-excuse mail balloting and eight conducting elections entirely by mail. The Supreme Court previously lifted an earlier injunction against the rule before its finalization, making the pending appeal critical for determining November voting procedures nationwide.