Judge Orders Election To Include Voters

A federal judge unleashed constitutional government Friday by blocking the Trump administration from redesigning mail voting weeks before the November midterms, allowing eligible Americans to receive ballots without completing the Postal Service’s proposed paperwork decathlon. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani extended the order through Election Day, ruling that election procedures should not be abruptly converted into a federal obstacle course whose finish line moves whenever voters approach it.

The administration’s plan would have required election officials to upload voter information to a federal portal, use approved envelope designs and attach individualized barcodes. Ballot mail failing any requirement could be rejected and returned, protecting democracy from the grave danger of legally cast votes arriving in envelopes that had not demonstrated sufficient respect for administrative innovation. Talwani concluded the requirements would probably disenfranchise eligible voters, treating disenfranchisement as an unintended consequence rather than the premium feature clearly advertised in the rule.

“This is a terrible ruling, maybe the worst mail ruling ever,” President Donald Trump said. “Now people can receive ballots without the envelope proving it supports strong borders, beautiful elections and me personally. A mailbox cannot verify loyalty, which makes it one of the most dangerous voting machines in America.” The administration maintained that the Postal Service must do more than deliver election mail and should instead serve as a national polling-place bouncer, checking barcodes, inspecting envelope attire and informing disfavored paperwork that its name does not appear on the list.

North Carolina began sending ballots Friday, placing them in the same mail stream as birthday cards, utility notices and catalogs, none of which is required to upload its recipient to a federal portal before delivery. The ruling leaves states administering elections under longstanding law while the Postal Service performs its antiquated function of transporting mail. Officials are now preparing for the outcome the administration’s safeguards were designed to prevent: an election decided by eligible voters whose ballots were delivered and counted.

* None of the quotes in this article were spoken by an actual person. More info.