Judge Blocks Postal Service From Imposing Restrictions on Mail-In Ballots
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-07-01 16:57:00 — www.nytimes.com
Federal Judge Blocks Trump-Directed USPS Changes That Threatened Mail-In Ballot Delivery
A federal judge in Washington has blocked the United States Postal Service from implementing changes to its delivery of mail-in ballots, finding that recent policies directed by President Trump violated a legal settlement designed to ensure timely delivery of election mail.
Judge Finds Trump’s Order Overstepped Legal Boundaries
Judge Emmet G. Sullivan ruled that the Postal Service’s proposal—stemming from an order by Trump—would have prevented the delivery of mail-in ballots in states that declined to provide voter data to the federal government. Judge Sullivan wrote that Trump’s order appeared “designed to exert federal control over who in the United States may be sent a mail-in or absentee ballot in federal elections by the Postal Service.” This, the judge concluded, ran afoul of a 2021 settlement agreement between the NAACP and the Postal Service, which requires the agency to prioritize and monitor the timely delivery of election mail through the 2028 cycle.
Legal and Constitutional Challenges
The court’s decision comes after a Massachusetts judge also struck down key components of Trump’s order, including the creation of lists of eligible voters and changes to mail-in voting procedures. That ruling reaffirmed that the Constitution grants authority over elections to the states, not the federal government.
Concerns Over Voter Disenfranchisement
The NAACP, which initiated the lawsuit, argued that Trump’s proposed changes would create new barriers to voting by mail, particularly for Black voters who are more likely to rely on mail-in ballots due to longstanding inequities in access. The organization’s counsel stated that the changes would have “created unnecessary and unlawful barriers, in direct violation of the U.S.P.S.’s mandate to prioritize election mail.”
USPS Response and Ongoing Oversight
Despite the Trump administration’s push for these changes, the Postal Service has stated it will comply with court orders. The agency had argued in court filings that the changes could not be blocked until rules were finalized, but the judge found otherwise, citing the binding nature of the prior settlement.
Conclusion
The court’s intervention highlights ongoing concerns about attempts to restrict mail-in voting and federal overreach into state-run election processes. Judge Sullivan’s ruling underscores that Trump’s order not only violated a standing legal agreement but also threatened to disenfranchise voters by undermining the timely delivery of mail-in ballots—a critical issue as the nation approaches another election cycle.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/07/01/us/politics/judge-trump-postal-service.html