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Supreme Court Could Lift USPS Mail Envelope Rejection Rule

By Drooid · Sep 14, 2026, 3:27 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

USPS Rejects Ballots

U.S. Postal Service rejected Leon County, Florida mail ballot envelopes because the return address was 0.236 inches from adjacent text.
The rejection on September 2 led Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley to obtain temporary certification on September 10.
The Supreme Court may lift the injunction that blocks USPS from enforcing the new envelope rule.
If enforced, states could face ballot rejections that disenfranchise voters in the November 3, 2026 general election.

Summary

Civil Rights File Brief

Civil rights groups, including Asian Law Caucus, filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to block the USPS rule.
The brief represents 20 civil-rights and community organizations challenging Executive Order 14399.
In 2024, 36 % of naturalized citizens, 47 % of Asian Americans, and 34 % of Latine voters used mail ballots.
Organizations warn seniors, people with disabilities, caregivers, and limited-English speakers could be disproportionately barred from voting.

History

Historical Context

President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Voting Rights Act on August 6, 1965, outlawing literacy tests and authorizing the Department of Justice to enforce federal oversight. The Act spurred a surge of Black registrations—about 250,000 in its first year—and launched DOJ lawsuits that expanded mail-ballot access. Today the Supreme Court’s pending USPS envelope ruling revives the Act’s promise to protect 2026 voters.

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USPS Rejects Ballots

U.S. Postal Service rejected Leon County, Florida mail ballot envelopes because the return address was 0.236 inches from adjacent text.
The rejection on September 2 led Supervisor of Elections Mark Earley to obtain temporary certification on September 10.
The Supreme Court may lift the injunction that blocks USPS from enforcing the new envelope rule.
If enforced, states could face ballot rejections that disenfranchise voters in the November 3, 2026 general election.

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