As the first mail-in ballots of the midterm election start going out, Trump asks the Supreme Court a third time to limit them

The Trump administration has once again sought the Supreme Court's intervention regarding mail-in ballots for the upcoming midterm elections. The appeal came after a federal judge blocked new restrictions on mail ballots, preventing the Postal Service from enforcing President Donald Trump's executive order.

U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani's order remains in place, limiting the administration's ability to make significant changes to mail ballot rules. Solicitor General John Sauer emphasized that once ballots begin being mailed, there's no turning back, and each day the injunction is in place risks confusion and chaos due to voluntary, rather than mandatory, preparatory steps.

This is the third time the administration has asked the high court to intervene, with previous appeals dismissed while the court has allowed the plan to proceed but not ruled on its constitutionality. Election officials argue there's insufficient time to revise systems to comply with the new Postal Service directives, while the administration claims the restrictions are commonsense changes within its power to regulate mail delivery.

The restrictions are seen as a way to address concerns about compliance with the Rule, according to the administration. However, election officials maintain that eligibility for mail-in and absentee voting remains governed by state law, and the Postal Service will not determine voter eligibility, maintain voter rolls, or count ballots.

The administration's push to limit mail voting, despite using it themselves, has been fueled by false claims of fraud during the 2020 election, in which President Biden defeated Trump. Despite this, the Trump administration has been unable to alter the established voting procedure.