Second federal judge freezes Trump mail ballot order with US Supreme Court poised to weigh in

A federal judge in Washington, D.C., has ordered the U.S. Postal Service to halt the implementation of President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail balloting. This decision adds another hurdle for the administration's attempt to modify election rules as the Supreme Court is set to review the issue. The plaintiffs argue that failing to halt the order may result in a significant number of absentee or mail-in ballots not being counted in the upcoming elections.

Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington, D.C., made this ruling in response to a lawsuit filed against the Postal Service's new mail voting rule. The lawsuit was resubmitted by the plaintiffs after previous attempts were deemed premature. The Postal Service's new regulations would require pre-approval of all ballot envelope designs and the uploading of recipient information to an inactive online portal.

Mail ballots are already being sent out in Alabama, North Carolina, and Wisconsin, with more states preparing to distribute them. A whistleblower report to Congress has warned that millions of people could be disenfranchised if the rule is allowed to take effect for the midterms. The union representing U.S. Postal Service workers has opposed the executive order, stating it is not their responsibility to verify voter eligibility.