California Sues USPS Over Mail-in Voting Restrictions

California is suing the United States Postal Service (USPS) to prevent the implementation of new restrictions on mail-in voting following a recent Supreme Court ruling. The Supreme Court ruled on August 21 that parts of President Trump's executive order, which seeks to limit mail-in voting eligibility, can remain in effect. This ruling overturned a lower court decision that had blocked the enforcement of the March 31 mail-in voting order, which was challenged by 23 Democratic-led states on the grounds that it unconstitutionally infringes on their election administration authority. California Attorney General Rob Bonta has joined 23 other attorneys general in filing a lawsuit seeking an emergency court order to block the USPS rules while the case is ongoing. Bonta stated, 'This mail-in voting rule is an unlawful overreach that shows just how far President Trump will go to control elections,' emphasizing that the U.S. Constitution grants states the power to regulate elections. The conflict began in March when President Trump directed the federal government to create voter-eligibility lists and instructed USPS to limit mail-ballot deliveries to voters on these new lists. The USPS's new rule, announced on August 21, requires states to provide voter information and adhere to new ballot-envelope standards. Critics argue that ballots may be withheld if voters are not on USPS lists or if envelopes do not meet the new requirements. In California, approximately 80% of voters utilize mail-in ballots. The state previously sued over Trump's executive order in April and secured an injunction in June, which the Supreme Court lifted, stating that the states' challenge was filed prematurely. California's lawsuit now targets USPS, claiming that the agency is overstepping its authority in election administration. This legal battle occurs amid ongoing scrutiny of California's mail-in voting system, which has faced issues such as delays, rejected ballots, and allegations of election fraud. An analysis by the Associated Press indicated that nearly 150,000 mail ballots were rejected during California's June primary, with over 93,000 rejected due to late arrival. Other ballots were rejected for reasons including signature discrepancies and duplicate voting. The slow counting process has also become a significant political issue, prompting federal investigations into alleged election fraud during the June primary.