Postal Service mail voting rules face extended block as judge presses DOJ
A federal judge is considering whether to continue blocking a U.S. Postal Service rule imposing new requirements for mail voting.
September 3, 2026 / 1:52 PM EDT / CBS News
Boston — A federal judge on Thursday pressed the Justice Department on the Trump administration's plans to impose new regulations for mail voting just weeks before the November midterms and echoed concerns that the measures could result in the disenfranchisement of voters.
Lawyers for the government and a group of Democratic-led states, joined by voting rights groups, appeared before U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani for a hearing in the ongoing legal battle over President Trump's efforts to tighten the rules for mail voting, as Talwani weighs whether to continue blocking the new rule from the U.S. Postal Service ahead of the upcoming elections.
The states and voting rights groups challenging the regulations argue that the measure is unconstitutional and have moved for longer-term relief.
The judge declined to rule from the bench but said she would issue her order as soon as possible. She gave the Justice Department until 3 p.m. to submit more details on the Postal Service's implementation of its new rule.
"I'm here 70 days before the election and I have nothing from USPS telling me how this will happen," Talwani said.