Federal Appeals Court Keeps Block on Trump Ballot Directive

The Boston-based court rejected a motion to pause an earlier order by U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani, which had halted the administration’s directive. That directive aimed to force the USPS to implement specific envelope logos and unique barcodes on mail-in ballots, a move critics view as a federal overreach into state-run election systems. Judges Gustavo Gelpí and Julie Rikelman, writing for the majority, emphasized that the Constitution vests the administration of federal elections in state and local officials, not the executive branch.

The ruling covers 23 states and the District of Columbia, which collectively challenged the order. While Judge Joshua Dunlap dissented, the decision reinforces a growing pattern of legal setbacks for the administration’s election policies. The order specifically threatened criminal penalties for officials who failed to comply, including requirements to submit unredacted voter files to the Department of Homeland Security for federal eligibility verification.

This development follows other significant judicial actions, including U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan’s decision to enforce a 2021 settlement requiring the USPS to prioritize election-related mail through 2028. Additionally, Chief U.S. District Judge Denise Casper previously blocked segments of the president’s order that demanded proof of citizenship for voter registration. These legal battles coincide with legislative efforts by Republicans to push the SAVE America Act, which remains stalled in the Senate due to a lack of support to overcome a Democratic filibuster.