The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to lift a lower-court block on Postal Service mail-ballot rules for November 2026.
Why it matters: The Court’s decision could determine whether the Postal Service can change how states mail federal ballots while ballots are already being prepared. It also affects whether the rule can take effect before more states start sending ballots for the 2026 elections.
- The administration filed its third emergency Supreme Court request in this dispute on Sept. 6, 2026.
- U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani extended a block on Postal Service enforcement of the rule for the November 2026 elections.
- The Postal Service final rule was issued Aug. 21 and published Aug. 26 in the Federal Register.
- AP reported ballots had already started going out in North Carolina, Alabama was set to begin Sept. 9 and at least five more states were scheduled for the week of Sept. 13.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court to let it enforce new mail-ballot restrictions while the underlying case continues in lower courts. The filing came after U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani extended a block on Postal Service enforcement of the rule for the November 2026 elections, according to the government's Supreme Court filing and AP.
The dispute centers on a Postal Service final rule issued Aug. 21 and published Aug. 26 in the Federal Register. The notice says it implements changes tied to mail-in ballots for federal elections, including envelope design, ballot-mail verification and participation-list requirements. The Federal Register notice and the Supreme Court docket filing lay out that procedural history.
The administration's third emergency request in the case asks the justices to stay the injunction, or allow enforcement while the appeal proceeds. The docket filing says Talwani found the Postal Service likely lacked authority to issue the final rule and declined to pause her temporary restraining order.
Mailing deadlines are already moving. AP reported ballots had started going out in North Carolina, Alabama was set to begin Sept. 9 and at least five more states were scheduled to start the week of Sept. 13. In its filing, Solicitor General John Sauer told the Court that ballots were already being sent while the injunction remains in place.
By the numbers
- 3 - The number of emergency Supreme Court requests the administration has made in this dispute.
- Aug. 21 - Date the Postal Service final rule was issued.
- Sept. 6, 2026 - Date of the latest Supreme Court filing.
Yes, but: The Supreme Court filing does not resolve the merits of the Postal Service rule; it only asks for temporary relief while the case is appealed.
What's next: The Court is being asked to stay the injunction or allow enforcement pending appeal.