A federal appeals court has temporarily halted a lower court’s nationwide block, allowing the U.S. Postal Service to proceed with a Trump-backed proposal concerning mail-in ballots. This decision enables the USPS to advance rules that could require states to submit detailed voter lists and mandate unique barcodes for ballots, while litigation over federal authority in elections continues. The timing of this ruling, with midterm elections approaching, raises concerns about potential widespread impacts on election administration and voter access, as ballots not meeting new requirements could face delays or rejection.
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President Donald Trump has dismissed the remaining commissioners of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, leaving the federal agency without leadership. This abrupt action, which targeted both Democratic and Republican members, disables the only federal body dedicated to election administration. The firings follow a recent Supreme Court ruling that expanded presidential authority over independent agencies, potentially weakening their insulation from White House control and raising questions about future legal challenges. The absence of commissioners halts the EAC’s ability to take official action, including routine business and any administration attempts to modify federal voting rules before the next election cycle.
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President Donald Trump signed an executive order aimed at tightening voting rules, specifically targeting mail-in ballots by requiring the creation of eligible voter lists and barring the U.S. Postal Service from sending absentee ballots to those not on these lists. This action has prompted immediate backlash and legal challenges from states like Oregon and Arizona, which rely heavily on mail-in voting systems. State officials in Oregon and Arizona have declared their intention to sue, asserting that states, not the federal government, are responsible for administering elections and that their established mail-in ballot systems are secure and effective. The order also calls for secure envelopes with unique barcodes for tracking ballots, though the president’s authority to mandate actions by the Postal Service is being questioned.
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The author, a former Maricopa County recorder, urges Governor Polis not to pardon Tina Peters. Peters was convicted for violating election laws by allowing unauthorized access to sensitive voting data, betraying the responsibilities of an election administrator. Pardoning her would undermine confidence in election integrity, signal that election administrators are not valued, and potentially embolden future attacks on election officials, particularly by those influenced by figures like Donald Trump. The author emphasizes the importance of allowing the legal process to run its course to maintain the integrity of the election system.
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John Q. Hosedrinker