Judge Blocks Federal Mail-voting Rules As Washington Challenges Changes

A federal judge has temporarily blocked new Trump administration requirements for mail-in voting, as the state challenges rules that officials say could significantly disrupt its vote-by-mail system ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm election. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a 14-day temporary restraining order Thursday pre- venting the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing the new regulations while litigation continues.

A hearing on a longer-term injunction is scheduled for Sept. 3. The ruling followed a lawsuit filed Wednesday by Washington and a coalition of 24 other states challenging the Postal Service’s final rule implementing portions of President Donald Trump’s March executive order on mail voting. The rules would require states to meet new standards for ballot and return-envelope designs and provide information on voters receiving mail ballots through a new Postal Service system. USPS could refuse to process ballots that do not meet the requirements or are associated with voters who do not appear on federally generated lists.

Talwani found the states had demonstrated that implementing the requirements shortly before the election could cause significant harm and said they were likely to succeed in challenging the federal government’s authority to impose the regulations. The Trump administration has argued the requirements are intended to strengthen election integrity and fall within the Postal Service’s authority to establish standards for mail. The administration has maintained that compliant ballots would continue moving through the postal system normally.

The legal fight is particularly significant in Washington, which has conducted statewide elections primarily through mailed ballots since 2011. Registered voters automatically receive ballots and can return them through the mail, official drop boxes or election offices. Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said complying with the new requirements could force counties to destroy and replace more than 5 million ballot envelopes already printed for the November election.

Counties would also have to submit voter information through the new USPS portal and have ballot-envelope designs approved by the federal agency. Washington officials have argued there is not enough time to make those changes. Military and overseas ballots must be mailed by Sept. 19, with ballots for other Washington voters beginning to go out in October. Attorney General Nick Brown, a Democrat who is helping lead the multistate lawsuit, argues the federal government is improperly intruding on authority the Constitution gives states to administer elections.

The administration and supporters of the rule contend the changes would provide additional safeguards and increase public confidence in mail voting. The dispute reached the U.S. Supreme Court earlier this week after lower courts had blocked portions of Trump’s executive order. On Monday, the court’s conservative majority lifted one injunction, finding the states’ challenge had been brought before USPS issued its final regulations. The Supreme Court did not rule on whether Trump’s executive order or the eventual Postal Service regulations were constitutional, leaving that question for further litigation.

After USPS finalized the rule, Washington and the other states returned to court with a new challenge directed at the regulations themselves. Washington already requires voters to attest that they are eligible to vote and uses signature verification to confirm returned ballots. State officials have expressed concern that adding a separate federal verification process could prevent otherwise eligible voters from receiving ballots because of errors or incomplete federal records.

Stevens County Auditor Lori Larsen said the ongoing federal litigation over mail-in ballots has not changed current voting procedures in Stevens County. A temporary restraining order remains in place, and Washington election officials are continuing to monitor the case. Larsen said her office will follow controlling law and court orders, relying on guidance from the Stevens County Prosecuting Attorney when legal questions arise. She added that the elections office is also developing contingency plans in case Postal Service-related changes affect how voters receive or return ballots, emphasizing that the planning is precautionary rather than an indication that disruption is expected.

“Planning for contingencies does not mean we expect a disruption; it means we want to be prepared if one occurs,” Larsen said. “We used schools and fire districts with volunteers for ballot drop-offs before permanent drop boxes were installed, and we took a similar approach during the 2020 pandemic, when I rented trailers and placed them around the county so we could safely retrieve same-day ballot drop-offs, when the public buildings we historically used were closed to us.” Larsen encouraged voters who have questions or concerns to contact the Stevens County Elections Office at 509-684-7514.

She also said voters could consider adding an email address and a text-capable telephone number to their voter registration record. “Having that more immediate contact information could be extremely valuable if we need to quickly notify an individual voter about a ballot-delivery issue, provide information about obtaining a replacement ballot, or explain other options for accessing and returning a ballot,” Larsen said. “Our goal, regardless of what happens in the courts, is to make sure every eligible Stevens County voter continues to have a practical and reliable way to receive and cast a ballot.” Washington has increasingly relied on ballot drop boxes for returns.

Nearly 70% of ballots in the August primary were returned through drop boxes, according to state officials. Hobbs’ office has been examining whether additional drop boxes could be made available if federal restrictions eventually affect ballot returns by mail. For now, the temporary restraining order means Washington voters and county election offices do not have to change their procedures. The Trump administration is appealing Talwani’s latest ruling, continuing a legal fight that could again reach the Supreme Court before November.