Postal Service Rules Restricting Mail Ballots Halted by Court Injunction

Denver, September 4, 2026 - Today, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts issued a preliminary injunction that continues to stop the Postal Service from implementing its new rules to regulate mail ballots.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold has issued the following statement:

We are glad that this Court has stopped the Postal Service from impacting who can receive a ballot in the 2026 election. The Postal Service must stick to its job of delivering the mail, rather than trying to decide who gets to vote. We will continue to fight Trump to stop his unlawful attempts to suppress the vote and disenfranchise voters.

On August 26, Colorado joined 24 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the United States Postal Service to stop the Postal Service from limiting who can receive a mail ballot. The lawsuit was filed after the Postal Service formally adopted rules in accordance with President Trump's March 31, 2026 Executive Order. The preliminary injunction resolves motions in this case as well as in a separate case brought by the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts and five additional plaintiffs.

Separately, the temporary restraining order issued by the District Court on August 27 has been appealed to the First Circuit Court of Appeals by the Postal Service. The First Circuit Court of Appeals has not issued a ruling at the time of publication. The Massachusetts District Court declined to pause the TRO while the appeal is pending. The administration has further asked for the United States Supreme Court for expedited review of this appeal.

On Monday, August 24, the United States Supreme Court allowed the President's Executive Order on mail ballots to proceed. In their decision, the Supreme Court noted that lower court decisions to halt parts of the Executive Order came too early because agencies - including the Postal Service - had not yet implemented the order, and no rules were in place to do so.

On August 20, the United States Postal Service published an advance copy of a final rule (PDF) related to the Executive Order on mail ballots. That publication noted that rules would be in immediate effect after publication on August 26, but would only apply to the 2026 General Election if court actions preventing implementation were lifted.

Executive Order 14399 is the second Executive Order issued directly related to election administration during Trump's second term. The President's first executive order on elections issued during his second term, which sought changes to voter registration requirements, has been largely enjoined.

There are currently 60 days until the midterm election.