In the United States, a federal judge has extended a ban stopping President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing a new US Postal Service rule to restrict mail voting ahead of the midterm elections in November.
Judge Indira Talwani issued the order yesterday. The Trump administration has said it will appeal the decision and has asked the US Supreme Court to intervene.
The ruling comes as states begin sending mail-in ballots. North Carolina started mailing ballots yesterday. Other states are expected to follow soon.
Election officials have warned that changing voting rules at this stage could confuse. They said it could also prevent some voters from receiving or returning their ballots on time.
Judge Talwani said the changes could affect millions of voters. She noted that states must send out ballots within fixed deadlines.
The order allows states to voluntarily adopt the Postal Service’s new system. However, no state has announced plans to do so. President Trump has repeatedly criticised mail-in voting and sought to limit its use.
The issue has led to several legal challenges and could affect the upcoming midterm elections, where control of Congress is at stake.
