Supreme Court stayed a lower court’s block on Trump’s mail‑in ballot rule, letting the 95‑page final regulation take effect immediately just 10 weeks before the midterm elections. The rule forces states to redesign ballot envelopes with unique barcodes, official logos and automation‑compatible formatting, and to hand voter name and address lists to the Postal Service.
The 6‑3 conservative majority said the states lack standing, while Justices Sotomayor, Kagan and Jackson dissented. The final rule, issued Friday, carries an “immediate effective date” but the Postal Service pledged not to enforce it until the government secures relief. California and other Democratic‑led states announced fresh lawsuits to block the requirements.
Election officials warned the tight timeline makes compliance impossible, threatening chaos for the November vote. Counties such as Yolo, California, have already printed envelopes and cannot revise designs quickly. Experts say no state currently meets the postal rule’s barcode and list‑submission standards, raising doubts about a smooth rollout.
A separate injunction from U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani still blocks key parts of the order, and the Supreme Court has not acted on that stay. Legal analysts note the unsigned opinion did not decide the rule’s constitutionality, leaving the ultimate legality unresolved as the administration seeks to enforce the new requirements.