Story perspectives

USPS Halts Ballot Delivery; Sioux Falls Recount; $67 B Defense Request

6/25/2026

Center

**USPS Halts Ballots**

The U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail-in ballots in states that do not provide a voter eligibility list.
Former state legislator Christine Erickson leads Jamie Smith by two votes in the Sioux Falls mayoral race, prompting recount.
David Steiner said the rule follows a Trump executive order and will obey courts.
OMB Director Russell Vought requested $67 billion for Defense, far below the administration’s earlier $200 billion proposal.

Left

Democrats Seek Flips

Democrats point to recent mayoral wins in Omaha, Miami, Boca Raton and Waukesha as evidence they can flip local offices.
State Senator Jamie Smith and councilmember Erin Erickson tied in the Sioux Falls mayoral race by two votes, prompting recount.
A group of Democratic senators said they would not support the supplemental request.
South Dakota Republicans endorsed Erickson in the officially nonpartisan race.

Blindspot

Center coverage emphasized the USPS decision to halt delivery of mail-in ballots in states that do not provide a voter-eligibility list, a detail absent from Left coverage.
Center coverage also included national policy items such as the Iran-conflict briefing and the Defense Department budget request, which Left coverage did not address.

History

Historical Context

After the 2000 presidential race was decided by Court’s Bush v. Gore ruling—Bush winning Florida by a 537-vote margin—Congress passed the 2002 Help America Vote Act, allocating $380 million to upgrade Postal Service’s mail system and lists. USPS’s refusal to deliver mail-in ballots without those lists mirrors dispute, prompting candidates Jamie Smith and Christine Erickson to sue and OMB Director Russell Vought’s $67 billion defense request to Senate opposition.

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**USPS Halts Ballots**

The U.S. Postal Service will stop delivering mail-in ballots in states that do not provide a voter eligibility list.
Former state legislator Christine Erickson leads Jamie Smith by two votes in the Sioux Falls mayoral race, prompting recount.
David Steiner said the rule follows a Trump executive order and will obey courts.
OMB Director Russell Vought requested $67 billion for Defense, far below the administration’s earlier $200 billion proposal.

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