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DOJ Appeals After Judge Blocks USPS Mail-Ballot Rule

9/1/2026

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Summary

Story summary

U.S. Department of Justice opposes the federal court order blocking the USPS mail-ballot rule.
Judge Indira Talwani issued a temporary restraining order halting enforcement of the rule.
The rule requires states to obtain USPS envelope approval and upload voter data to a portal.
The DOJ asked the First Circuit Court of Appeals to treat the TRO as an appealable preliminary injunction.

History

Historical Context

After the 2000 Florida recount exposed voting flaws, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act, which President George W. Bush signed on Oct 29 2002 with a 357-48 House vote, creating the Election Assistance Commission and mandating nationwide system upgrades. Today the Justice Department is suing to lift a judge’s injunction that blocks a USPS rule echoing HAVA’s data-submission standards, threatening the law’s modernization push.

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Story summary

U.S. Department of Justice opposes the federal court order blocking the USPS mail-ballot rule.
Judge Indira Talwani issued a temporary restraining order halting enforcement of the rule.
The rule requires states to obtain USPS envelope approval and upload voter data to a portal.
The DOJ asked the First Circuit Court of Appeals to treat the TRO as an appealable preliminary injunction.

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