Washington state sues again over Trump's mail-in voting rule
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Washington and 24 other states are again trying to block President Trump's sweeping Postal Service rule on mail-in voting, just days after the Supreme Court lifted a lower court's injunction against his executive order.
The big picture: The Supreme Court's decision this week essentially said the states sued too early. Now, they're hoping the timing is right to kneecap the plan ahead of the midterms.
- The ruling didn't weigh the merits of Trump's order, which critics warn would expand federal power over state-run elections.
Driving the news: The new complaint, brought by 24 attorneys general and Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, challenges the U.S. Postal Service's final rule outlining the implementation of Trump's mail-in voting provisions.
- The states argue that the rule "violates the Constitution and federal statutes many times over" and that they'll have to redesign ballot envelopes and build new systems to transmit voter lists to USPS with just weeks to comply.
- "If not stayed or preliminarily enjoined, the Rule will frustrate or outright prevent Plaintiff States from administering their mail voting programs in November and foreseeably disenfranchise voters who vote by mail," the complaint reads.
What they're saying: "The Constitution is clear: states control elections — not the president," Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said in a news release Wednesday.
- "The U.S. Postal Service doesn't have the authority to deny Washingtonians the ability to vote."
Catch up quick: Trump's March 31 executive order calls for "State Citizenship List[s]" of eligible voters. It directs the U.S. Postal Service not to transmit mail ballots for people not on a state list.
- USPS' final rule to implement Trump's order landed on the Federal Register Wednesday, prompting the new lawsuit.
The other side: White House spokeswoman Lauren Bis said in a statement provided to Axios that the Supreme Court's decision earlier this week "was a major win for the security of American elections."
- "Radical Democrats continue to oppose commonsense measures that protect the security of mail-in ballots and ensure only Americans are electing American leaders," she added.
Friction point: The renewed challenge and ongoing litigation are playing out on a tight timeline.
- Washington and several states are set to issue mail-in ballots in September, leaving little time to hammer out the proposed regulations.
Go deeper: Washington vows to fight Trump's mail-in voting order