Story perspectives

Supreme Court keeps Postal Service mail-ballot rule blocked

By Drooid · Sep 15, 2026, 9:58 AM UTC · How we work

Center

Court blocks barcode rule

On September 14, 2026, U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to lift an injunction, keeping Postal Service’s mail-ballot rule blocked.
Court said applying rule before November midterms would be arbitrary and capricious, with Brett Kavanaugh concurring and Alito and Thomas dissenting.
The rule required ballot envelopes with unique barcodes, letting the Postal Service reject non-compliant ballots.
Officials in Washington, Arizona and Utah said decision lets keep voting under November procedures.

Left

Protects Mail Voters

Supreme Court denied President Donald Trump’s request to lift the district injunction, keeping the Postal Service’s mail-ballot rule blocked.
The decision was hailed as protecting millions of voters who rely on mail ballots, preventing disenfranchisement before the November election.
Voting-rights groups and 23 states warned the rule’s portal and bar codes could discard ballots.
Rep. Robert Garcia and California AG Rob Bonta called the ruling a safeguard against disenfranchisement.

Blindspot

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented, arguing the Postal Service has broad authority to regulate mail and could enforce the rule.
Within this story's sources, this angle appears mainly in Center-leaning coverage and receives less attention in Left-leaning coverage.

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Court blocks barcode rule

On September 14, 2026, U.S. Supreme Court denied the Trump administration’s request to lift an injunction, keeping Postal Service’s mail-ballot rule blocked.
Court said applying rule before November midterms would be arbitrary and capricious, with Brett Kavanaugh concurring and Alito and Thomas dissenting.
The rule required ballot envelopes with unique barcodes, letting the Postal Service reject non-compliant ballots.
Officials in Washington, Arizona and Utah said decision lets keep voting under November procedures.

1 / 3