Second judge blocks Trump mail voting rule ahead of midterms

A second federal judge has blocked a new U.S. Postal Service rule that would tighten requirements for mail-in voting, adding another legal obstacle to the Trump administration's effort to reshape election procedures ahead of the November midterm elections. U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols in Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction late Sunday, preventing the Postal Service from implementing the rule while the courts consider its legality. The rule, published on August 21, stems from an executive order issued by President Donald Trump earlier this year. It would require states to obtain pre-approval for ballot envelope formats and upload the personal details of intended ballot recipients into a web portal that is not yet operational. Election officials have warned that implementing such operational changes this close to a general election would be virtually impossible. In his ruling, Judge Nichols wrote that plaintiffs had demonstrated an increased risk that a significant number of otherwise appropriate absentee or mail-in ballots would ultimately not be counted in the upcoming elections.