A group of 23 states governed by Democrats, along with the District of Columbia, filed a lawsuit on Wednesday in federal court in Boston to block a new U.S. Postal Service policy that imposes stricter requirements on mail-in voting.
The legal challenge targets a USPS rule, signed by President Donald Trump in March, that mandates states provide the agency with lists of voters intending to use mail-in ballots. The policy also requires ballot envelopes to include exclusive barcodes and grants USPS the authority to verify compliance and refuse delivery of non-compliant ballots or those from voters not on state lists.
The lawsuit argues the policy will create unnecessary confusion, impose additional costs, and pose unacceptable risks to voters ahead of the November legislative elections. New York Attorney General Letitia James stated the policy would "generate confusion, unnecessary costs, and unacceptable risks for voters on the eve of election day," and vowed to pursue legal action to block it.
The dispute follows a temporary restraining order issued by Federal Judge Indira Talwani in August, which was later revoked after the Trump administration requested its dissolution following a U.S. Supreme Court ruling. The new lawsuit seeks to reinstate restrictions on the USPS policy.
During the 2024 U.S. elections, nearly 100 million ballots were processed by USPS, with approximately 30% of voters nationwide opting for mail-in voting. The upcoming November elections are expected to see further reliance on mail-in ballots, increasing the significance of the legal and operational challenges posed by the new USPS requirements.
The coalition includes states such as California, Massachusetts, and New York, alongside Pennsylvania, which has a Democratic governor. The lawsuit reflects broader tensions over voting access and election administration in the lead-up to the 2026 midterm elections.
