Supreme Court poised to decide USPS mail-in voting rule amid midterm race

The Supreme Court has scheduled arguments on two consolidated cases that contest a USPS rule issued on Aug. 21, which mandates that states upload mail-in voter information to an untested online system and redesign ballot envelopes with bar codes. Federal District Court Judge Indira Talwani previously issued preliminary injunctions blocking the rule. If the high court lifts those blocks, the regulation could halt ballot delivery for states that do not meet its requirements.

With nearly one-third of voters using mail ballots in 2024, and several states conducting elections primarily by mail, the timing raises concerns about voter access. Legal scholars note that the Constitution grants states authority over election procedures, and the rule may conflict with the USPS’s statutory mission to provide reliable service. The outcome could shape the balance of the upcoming midterm elections.