The Trump administration has renewed its push for the U.S. Supreme Court to allow new restrictions on mail-in ballots to take effect ahead of the November midterm elections.
The latest emergency appeal comes after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani extended an injunction preventing the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing the new requirements during the upcoming election.
The rules stem from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump and would require states and local election offices to follow new procedures for ballots sent through the mail.
Among the requirements are specially designed ballot envelopes with unique barcodes and the submission of information about mail-ballot recipients through a new Postal Service system.
The administration argues that the requirements are necessary to protect election integrity and says they should not prevent eligible Americans from voting by mail.
Opponents, including Democratic-led states and voting-rights organizations, argue that implementing major changes so close to Election Day could create confusion and prevent eligible voters from successfully casting mail ballots.
The timing makes the legal battle particularly significant.
Some states have already started sending mail ballots, while more are expected to begin doing so in the coming weeks.
Mail voting is used by roughly one-third of American voters, meaning the outcome of the legal fight could affect millions of people.
The dispute now puts the Supreme Court back at the center of another major election battle as Republicans and Democrats prepare for November contests that will determine control of Congress.
With Election Day approaching quickly, the Supreme Court’s next move could determine whether the new Postal Service requirements are implemented for the 2026 midterms.