The Trump administration has asked the Supreme Court to allow stricter rules for mail-in ballots to take effect, according to The Washington Post. The request comes as part of a legal fight over changes to how mail ballots are handled ahead of the upcoming midterm elections.
The Justice Department filed the emergency appeal on behalf of the administration, asking the high court to lift a lower court's block on the policy, NBC News reports. The rules in question involve the U.S. Postal Service and would impose new restrictions on how mail-in ballots are processed and counted.
The administration argues the restrictions are necessary to prevent fraud and ensure election integrity, according to CNN. Lower courts had previously halted the plan, ruling that it could disenfranchise voters. The administration now wants the Supreme Court to intervene and allow the changes to proceed before the midterms.
The New York Times reports that the administration is seeking to overturn the lower court rulings that stopped the policy from being enforced. NPR also notes that the request specifically asks the justices to allow the USPS plan to move forward while the broader legal challenge continues.
The case is part of an ongoing dispute over voting procedures, with the administration pushing for tighter controls on mail ballots. Opponents of the restrictions have argued they would make it harder for some voters to cast ballots, particularly those who rely on mail-in voting.
The Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether it will take up the emergency request. A decision could come quickly given the proximity of the midterm elections, and the outcome will determine whether the restrictions are in place for that vote.
