Rules Designed to Create Chaos

Donald Trump has long been opposed to mail-in voting, referring to it as "dangerous," "corrupt," "horrible," and "a fraud". He intended to sign an executive order abolishing mail-in ballots, but this never came to fruition due to Trump's limited legal authority in this matter. The federal government's role in elections is minimal, with Congress holding the constitutional authority for these decisions.

However, recently, the Trump administration has attempted to obstruct mail-in voting through its control over the U.S. Postal Service (USPS).

The administration's plan involves creating a complex system that would make it nearly impossible for mail-in ballots to be delivered. The USPS has been directed to develop new requirements such as obtaining federal approval for envelope design, adding barcodes to each ballot envelope, and uploading a list of all voters receiving mail ballots to a federal portal.

The court dockets currently contain statements from election experts and state/local officials expressing concerns about the logistical challenges posed by this rule, including the need for new envelopes, lack of compatibility with existing systems, and significant costs associated with implementing the new requirements.

If the Supreme Court allows the USPS to proceed with these measures in time for the midterms, there is a risk of significant disenfranchisement, as experts have warned. Election officials across the country are already exploring alternative methods for delivering ballots, such as partnering with private mail carriers. Nevada, for example, is considering this option, which would come at an additional expense of approximately $8 per ballot.

As the midterms approach, the potential consequences of this election law fight remain uncertain, with the Supreme Court's decision weighing heavily on the future of mail-in voting in the United States.