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The Department of Justice (DOJ) has filed an emergency request with the Supreme Court to lift a block on President Donald Trump's executive order affecting mail-in voting in Pennsylvania and 22 other states. The request, made on Monday (July 27), aims to allow the administration to proceed with changes before the upcoming midterm elections in November.
The executive order, issued in March, mandates the creation of federal citizenship lists and requires the U.S. Postal Service to send mail ballots only to individuals on these lists. A lower court had previously blocked the order, ruling that President Trump lacked the authority to alter state election rules unilaterally. According to Al Jazeera, the First U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld this ruling over the weekend, prompting the DOJ to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court.
Governor Josh Shapiro of Pennsylvania joined the lawsuit against the executive order, arguing that the federal government cannot override state election laws. The DOJ contends that the order is merely "general policy guidance" and not a directive on state election administration. Solicitor General John Sauer emphasized the need for a swift decision to implement the policy by August.
Voting rights advocates, including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), have expressed concerns that the order could disenfranchise voters, particularly those who rely on mail-in ballots, such as the elderly and students. The ACLU is part of a coalition challenging the order, citing its potential to cause confusion and disrupt preparations for the elections.
The Supreme Court's decision on the emergency request will determine whether the block on the executive order is lifted, potentially allowing the changes to take effect before the midterms.