Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, along with attorneys general from 23 other states and Washington, D.C., has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) challenging a new mail-ballot rule. The regulation, originating from the Trump administration, introduces federal requirements for how states prepare and send mail-in ballots.
Shapiro stated on X, formerly Twitter, that he is suing the Trump administration to prevent what he called an unconstitutional attempt to alter voting rules and restrict mail-in voting. He emphasized that voting by mail remains safe and secure in Pennsylvania and asserted that the authority to set election rules rests with the states, not the federal government.
This legal challenge follows a Supreme Court decision that allowed the USPS to proceed with a new rule concerning mail-in ballots for federal elections. The Supreme Court had previously stayed an injunction against key parts of an executive order on mail-in voting, finding the initial challenge premature. The USPS's finalized rule requires state and local election officials to submit information on intended mail-ballot recipients to a USPS portal. It also mandates certain design requirements for ballot envelopes, including trackable barcodes, and requires pre-approval of these designs by the USPS.
The states argue in their complaint that the rule oversteps the USPS's authority by giving it a new role in election administration. They contend that this forces election officials to adopt new procedures, share sensitive data, and potentially replace existing materials as the midterm elections approach. The coalition also asserts that Congress, not the president or the Postal Service, holds the authority to change federal election rules and that the USPS bypassed necessary review processes for significant nationwide operational changes.
A Massachusetts federal judge had previously issued an injunction blocking the USPS from implementing these requirements for the November midterms, but this order was lifted following the Supreme Court's ruling. The states are seeking a court order to block the rule while their lawsuit is ongoing, ultimately aiming to have it overturned. They argue that their new challenge addresses the timing concerns raised by the Supreme Court, as the USPS has now published a final rule that could directly impact the states.