Maine sues Postal Service over new mail voting rule
Maine Joins Coalition Suing USPS Over New Mail‑In Ballot Rules
Maine’s attorney general announced Wednesday that the state has thrown its weight behind a multi‑state lawsuit aimed at blocking a recent United States Postal Service rule that could reshape how mail‑in ballots are produced and delivered. The legal action, filed in federal court in Massachusetts, charges that the regulation oversteps federal authority and threatens to disenfranchise voters just months before the November general election.
The rule in question was released last week as part of an executive order issued by President Donald Trump. Among its provisions, it mandates new design specifications for mail‑in ballot envelopes and requires each state to register voters who are eligible to vote by mail directly with the Postal Service. Under the new framework, ballots would only be sent to individuals whose names appear on a list generated by USPS; any discrepancy could prevent a ballot from reaching the voter.
Attorney General Aaron Frey said the rule represents an unlawful intrusion into the constitutional responsibilities of state governments. “USPS and the president are inflicting violence on free and fair elections through this unlawful attempt to control voting by mail,” Frey said in a written statement. He added that the Constitution does not grant the executive branch the power to dictate how states run their elections, calling the rule “election interference” that must be halted.
The lawsuit, which now includes 24 states and the District of Columbia, argues that the regulation violates the Constitution’s division of powers, federal voting‑rights statutes, and existing Postal Service policies. The coalition contends that the requirements would impose substantial administrative and financial burdens on states, forcing them to redesign ballot envelopes, create new voter‑registration pipelines to USPS, and implement the changes in a very tight timeframe.
“Even if states were able to meet these enormous administrative and financial burdens, the rule could still result in eligible voters not receiving their ballots due to, for instance, administrative errors or flaws in the rushed and untested new procedures,” Frey’s office warned.
The Postal Service, however, has defended the move, stating that the rule is intended to “facilitate enforcement of federal law, reduce the risk of fraud, and help protect the integrity of federal elections.” The agency also noted that it will not enforce the regulation while an injunction remains in place in a separate lawsuit concerning mail voting, suggesting the upcoming November election is unlikely to be affected by the new requirements.
The case is now pending before a federal judge in Massachusetts, where similar challenges are being heard. Maine, which has long relied on mail‑in voting—especially in rural areas—could feel the impact if the rule ultimately takes effect.
USPS spokespeople did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
The coalition’s legal team is urging the court to issue a preliminary injunction, arguing that the regulation’s implementation would cause irreparable harm to the electoral process. With the November election drawing closer, both sides are bracing for a rapid resolution that could set a precedent for the future of mail‑in voting across the United States.
