A federal judge has prolonged the suspension of a presidential decree by Donald Trump aimed at tightening regulations on mail voting until the midterm elections, set for November 3. This decision follows an increasing legal battle over mail-in voting, as several states have already begun sending ballots to voters.
The judge in Boston had initially suspended the enforcement of new mail voting rules established by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on August 27 for a two-week period. On Friday, she extended this suspension through the election date, citing the overwhelming obstacles faced by local and state officials in adapting to the new procedures.
“The significant number of obstacles mentioned and the minimal time available for officials to familiarize themselves with the new procedures will make compliance with these rules practically impossible by November 3,” the judge stated.
She also reiterated concerns that the regulations, announced on August 21, could disenfranchise millions of American citizens right before the elections, with less than 70 days for implementation.
The Trump administration has appealed this decision and has already approached the Supreme Court regarding the initial suspension.
Controversies Surrounding New Mail Voting Rules
Donald Trump has frequently criticized the potential for mail voting in various states, claiming it as one of the main reasons for his defeat in the 2020 elections against Democrat Joe Biden, a loss he still refuses to acknowledge.
On March 31, Trump signed a decree to impose stricter regulations on mail voting, which has faced legal challenges from a coalition of Democratic-led states and a voter advocacy organization.
A whistleblower warned on Tuesday that if the new USPS information system is implemented, it could prevent millions of Americans from voting in November.
The decree requires immigration and social security services to create a federal list of eligible voters, with mail-in ballots distributed only to those on this list. The stated goal is to minimize the risk of foreigners voting in U.S. elections, a theme frequently raised by Trump and the Republican party, despite official statistics indicating that such occurrences are extremely rare.
Trump’s declining popularity has raised concerns among Republicans that it may jeopardize their majority in the House of Representatives or even the Senate during the upcoming midterm elections.
In the United States, nearly one-third of voters utilized mail-in ballots in 2024, according to the organization States United.
