Federal judge blocks key parts of Trump mail-in voting order
10 reported
A federal judge in Boston has blocked key parts of President Trump’s executive order aimed at limiting voting by mail. The ruling applies to this fall’s general election and earlier races in nearly two dozen mainly Democratic-led states plus Washington, D.C., that filed one of five lawsuits against the order. The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, a nominee of former President Barack Obama. The order, issued in March, calls for the U.S. Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security to create voter lists and for USPS to deliver mail-in ballots only to people on those lists. Judge Talwani found that the directives exceed the president’s authority under the Constitution, which gives state legislatures and Congress power over election rules. The legal fight is likely to continue as a separate appeal of an earlier ruling in similar D.C.-based lawsuits moves forward.
What’s reported
A federal judge in Boston blocked key parts of President Trump’s executive order limiting mail-in voting.
The ruling applies to this fall’s general election and earlier races in 23 mainly Democratic-led states plus Washington, D.C.
The Trump administration is expected to appeal the ruling by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani.
Trump’s March order calls for USPS and DHS to create lists of adult U.S. citizens or eligible voters in each state.
USPS has proposed using information from state election officials to create voter lists.
Postmaster General David Steiner told lawmakers that under the proposal, USPS would not deliver mail ballots of states that refuse to turn over absentee voter lists.
Judge Talwani wrote that the Constitution does not grant the president any specific powers over elections.
New York State Attorney General Letitia James said the decision protects the right to vote from “another unlawful attack.”
The states covered by the ruling include: Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
In D.C.-based cases, a judge found in late May it was too early for an emergency ruling; Democrats are appealing that ruling.
Key figures
President Trump
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani (nominee of former President Barack Obama)
Postmaster General David Steiner
New York State Attorney General Letitia James
Sources: NPR
