Judge presses DOJ as block on Postal Service mail-voting rules continues

A federal judge questioned the Justice Department over how the U.S. Postal Service would implement new mail-voting requirements, saying she had received no explanation just 70 days before the election.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani heard arguments in Boston from government lawyers and Democratic-led states, joined by voting-rights groups. The challengers want longer-term relief from rules they say are unconstitutional and could disenfranchise voters.

Talwani declined to decide the matter from the bench. She gave the Justice Department until 3 p.m. to submit further details and said she would issue an order as soon as possible. “I’m here 70 days before the election and I have nothing from USPS telling me how this will happen,” Talwani said.

The dispute follows an executive order President Donald Trump signed in March directing his administration, including the Postal Service and the Department of Homeland Security, to take steps restricting mail voting. One provision requiring the Homeland Security Department to compile state-specific lists of U.S. citizens for election officials has already taken effect.

Talwani barred the administration in June from implementing the order, including its Postal Service provisions. The Supreme Court later froze that decision after a Justice Department request, ruling that the states’ lawsuit was premature without addressing the merits of the mail-voting policies. The Postal Service case could return to the justices in the coming weeks.

“

I’m here 70 days before the election and I have nothing from USPS telling me how this will happen.