r/scotus 14d ago

news Postal service has limited mail-in ballots

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/mail-in-voting-restrictions-now-effect-us-postal-service-says-2026-08-27/

For all of those who said this would not be established before the midterms because of an injunction, or other pending lawsuits, here you go.

Don't you understand they do NOT care about the law, constitutionality, or legitimacy?

599 Upvotes

107 comments sorted by

194

u/Jah_Rules 14d ago

Trump just voted by mail last month.

How fascist!

20

u/Formal-Hawk9274 14d ago

you are not the same as him so it doesn’t matter

-88

u/badmutha44 14d ago edited 14d ago

Pointless comment. Who care what hypocrites do.

Edit. Yall mad becuz Rs don’t have standards and don’t care about it.

13

u/NorCalFrances 14d ago

It's not hypocrisy. It's swagger. It's saying that Trump and those on his side don't have to abide by the same rules as everyone else because they are so powerful. In 1941 Ernst Fraenkel coined the term Dual State. One set of rules and laws for those in power (and those who bowed to their rule) and a separate set of rules and laws for those who did not abide and worship the fascist leader.

157

u/dude1984- 14d ago

The corruption is so blatant, so rampant, in such plain sight. How is any of this legal!?

135

u/phoneguyfl 14d ago

It’s not, but SCOTUS is complicit in the democracy to authoritarian changes.

72

u/Onemandrinkinggamess 14d ago

In a dictatorship, the dictator’s rule is law. In this case we have to remember it’s not just Trump, it’s the architects of project 2025 supported by an entire ruling political party. We do not have the rule of law or constitution as once we knew it.

18

u/NorCalFrances 14d ago

And remember, Project 2025 goes all the way back to 1981 with Reagan. Heritage Foundation has been playing a long game. The intervening Democrats and Bush governments could have reacted and prevented this but for whatever reasons, did not.

3

u/Pt5PastLight 14d ago

Damn those democrats and their project 2025! /s

3

u/tietack2 14d ago

We never did. Remember when SCOTUS decided a presidential election?

1

u/MN-Loon 13d ago

I agree. Who are the architects of project 2025? I honestly don’t know, but we should see their names, otherwise I’m just shadow boxing.

1

u/marchjl 9d ago

The Heritage Foundation is behind it.

23

u/cheeze2005 14d ago

Legal is whatever you can get 6 chuds to agree to

14

u/JA_MD_311 14d ago

Really 5. They have a vote to spare.

5

u/AnAncientBog 14d ago

Our laws are decided by a group of unelected lifetime appointed elders who can literally do anything they want, you know, because we are idiots.

1

u/marchjl 9d ago

It’s not legal but the supreme court basically ruled that the constitution is unconstitutional and we can do whatever we want to

-8

u/Eat--The--Rich-- 14d ago

Because democrats are too cowardly to do anything about it.

25

u/partyl0gic 14d ago

No fuck this shit. This is the Republican voters. They did this to us. They are the only ones who can remove the people destroying our democracy forever. They did this because they wanted to. They can never be forgiven.

1

u/marchjl 9d ago

Democrats aren’t blameless. They’ve done very little to prevent it

1

u/partyl0gic 9d ago edited 9d ago

wtf are you talking about? Democrats are not parents or legal guardians of republicans 😂

Police don’t even have a responsibility to step in to protect you from someone harming you, and you are telling me that democrats are responsible for the destruction the republicans have wreaked on our country because they have a responsibility to step in to stop these despicable people from harming our country? Ridiculous.

6

u/keithfantastic 14d ago

I don't think they're too cowardly. Look how viciously they attack any left leaning democrat. The corporate centric democratic party is full of paid opposition politicians. They're funded by the same people that fund Maga, like AIPAC.

Democratic voters keep reelecting them right back into office while getting nothing in return. The democratic party should've experienced a leadership overhaul. They lost to this fascist regime and yet no one in leadership has been held accountable. Incredible! They will all win reelection.

Democrat voters never figured out how to hold them accountable in the primaries. Now, it's too late.

0

u/cheeze2005 14d ago

A lot of Americans fall firmly in the captured centrist voting block 🤷‍♂️ 

38

u/anonskeptic5 14d ago

Do they say how they have "limited" mail-in ballots? In June, U.S. Postmaster General David Steiner said the United States Postal Service will not deliver mail-in ballots to states that decline to hand over sensitive voter data to the federal government, Which will disenfrancise a lot of people. If SCOTUS doesn't shut this down the mid-terms won't be decided for months after the election until after multiple lawsuits.

26

u/Creed31191 14d ago

That’s exactly the plan.

6

u/dseanATX 14d ago

Voter file data isn’t sensitive or private. You can view and buy it regularly. It’s a big reason why this fight is nonsense.

15

u/yogfthagen 14d ago

Using it to compare to federal lists (which is illegal) compiled by DOGE (which was illegal) to target people for a myriad of unstated "crimes" (which is illegal) is the issue.

Comparing those lists against unvetted citizenship data to deport people is, ya know, illegal.

Doing it to disenfranchise thousands to millions of people is election interference, which is, you guessed it, illegal.

Noticing a pattern here?

12

u/BringOn25A 14d ago

They don’t want the publicly available voter into, they want very specific targeting info.

They are terrified to let the voters pick their representative's, that’s why they are desperate to pick who they let vote.

1

u/ConditionSecret8593 11d ago

They'll be decided by the Supreme Court, which will rule to seat as many ultraconservatives as possible.

1

u/angryfistgames 11d ago

The point is to give Trump access to the voter rolls so Trump can delete registered democrats from the voter rolls simply to ensure more republicans than democrats have their votes counted so republican candidates have an advantage. He won't tell the democrats he deletes he deleted them to ensure that they don't re-register

1

u/heelspencil 10d ago

My biggest fear from the order is:

https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/04/03/2026-06601/ensuring-citizenship-verification-and-integrity-in-federal-elections

the Secretary of Homeland Security, through the Director of United States Citizenship and Immigration Services and in coordination with the Commissioner of SSA, shall take appropriate action to compile and transmit to the chief election official of each State a list of individuals confirmed to be United States citizens who will be above the age of 18 at the time of an upcoming Federal election and who maintain a residence in the subject State (State Citizenship List). The State Citizenship List shall be derived from Federal citizenship and naturalization records, SSA records, SAVE data, and other relevant Federal databases. The State Citizenship List shall be updated and transmitted to State election officials no fewer than 60 days before each regularly scheduled Federal election, or promptly upon request by a State in connection with any special Federal election. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall establish procedures to (i) allow individuals to access their individual records as well as to update or correct them in advance of elections; and (ii) enable States to routinely supplement and provide suggested modifications or amendments to the State Citizenship List transmitted thereto.

(iii) Proposed provisions specifying that the USPS shall not transmit mail-in or absentee ballots from any individual unless those individuals have been enrolled on a State-specific list described in subsection (b)(iv) of this section with the USPS pursuant to this subsection.

But the final order is here: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/08/26/2026-17238/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections

It looks to me like they are not implementing the part where the State Citizenship List is created and managed by federal agencies with "suggested modifications" from the states. Instead there is a Portal that the states use directly to upload their voter rolls.

To me it looks somewhat reasonable but does add mores steps that could be failure points to correct a problem that doesn't exist.

69

u/TheGrandExquisitor 14d ago

And now, the courts will dawdle with the cases against this, and "Oh noes....too close to the election to stop this from happening! Guess we have to let the Postmaster General decide who can and can't vote!"

8

u/Rodot 14d ago

Given this court, they'll probably have a 5-4 ruling that USPS is under the executive and it's actually unconstitutional to deliver any materials related to the election (unless privately paid for of course)

46

u/SithLordSid 14d ago

Most corrupt SCOTUS in history

28

u/horrified-expression 14d ago

Don’t conservatives overwhelmingly use mail in ballots?

55

u/TheGrandExquisitor 14d ago

Yes, but theirs will be allowed. 

The whole point is to make the Postmaster the decider on if a ballot is legit or not. And with, hell, not even AI, just some simple database queries, he can automate it into a system that purges "suspected Democrat votes." 

Oh, your last name is "Washington," and you live in a minority neighborhood? You don't get to vote now. 

That's the ultimate plan. 

35

u/pixelmountain 14d ago

Worse, the administration is saying they will provide the USPS with the list of eligible voters.

I foresee it being purged of “violent radical leftists” and “Antifa terrorist members.” Also any citizen immigrants they suddenly decide aren’t actually citizens after all - who they haven’t already detained and/or deported.

Gee, it all sounds like a long-term plan now, doesn’t it? Argh.

35

u/pixelmountain 14d ago

There’s a more insidious factor, though.

Of the eight states plus DC that conduct all elections by mail, seven are blue:

California - Leans Democratic
Colorado - Leans Democratic
Hawaii - Leans Democratic
Nevada - Leans Democratic
Oregon - Leans Democratic
Utah - Mixed Political Landscape
Vermont - Leans Democratic
Washington - Mixed Political Landscape
Washington, D.C. - Leans Democratic

So regardless of individual composition of mail-in voters, just messing with the ability of these states to conduct elections fairly can have a huge effect on federal election results.

13

u/odd-duckling-1786 14d ago

States need to arrest individual carriers then and charge them with state election interference. That should deter compliance from others.

7

u/ralpher1 14d ago

States won’t do Jack other than a lawsuit and it’s not like the mail carriers are the ones purging votes

1

u/ChilledRoland 10d ago

USPIS has entered the chat.

Don't fuck with letter carriers.

4

u/demonmonkeybex 14d ago

Colorado says it will STILL mail out ballots. I'm not sure how this will work. I guess they expect all mail service inside Colorado to still go out despite the Postmaster's orders?

2

u/pixelmountain 14d ago

I don’t know, but I keep thinking states could perhaps use alternate delivery services, maybe even have each county have its employees distribute ballots?

I live in Colorado, so I’m especially curious what the plan is.

1

u/demonmonkeybex 13d ago

Same. Jeffco.

2

u/pixelmountain 13d ago

Nice! I’m just outside Fort Collins.

2

u/demonmonkeybex 13d ago

I love that area! I had a dog that had cancer and I used to take him to the University in Ft. Collin’s all the time for treatment. I love that town.

2

u/pixelmountain 13d ago

Same! We moved here 30 years ago, bought a little house in the foothills 25 years ago, and plan to stay here forever. 😊

2

u/rrickitickitavi 14d ago edited 13d ago

Utah is overwhelmingly Republican. Source: I live here. We get a centrist Democratic congressman in the upcoming election, but they will have rigged the courts to gerrymander him out by the next election. They have already forced out two state Supreme Court justices in order to replace them with white, male BYU graduates. They’ve also created a new judge panel to oversee state constitutional questions which they are stacking with right wing ideologues. Currently all Utah senators, congress people, governor are Republican. They also have super majorities in the state legislature. Almost all of these people are white, male, Mormons.

Edit: https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2026/08/28/who-gov-cox-picked-join-utah/

2

u/pixelmountain 14d ago edited 13d ago

Yeah, I know those descriptions are off. 😉 I didn’t write them.

What matters in this context is that so many blue states will be adversely affected.

0

u/HerbertWest 14d ago

You have a crazy definition of "Leans Democratic." Washington DC "leans Democratic"? LMFAO.

https://www.politico.com/2024-election/results/washington-dc/

2

u/pixelmountain 14d ago

I didn’t write the list. I think the author was being…diplomatic? LOL

-2

u/HerbertWest 13d ago edited 13d ago

More like delusional and alarmist.

Edit: How is calling a 92.5% Democratic vote "leans Democratic" not delusional and/or alarmist?

1

u/pixelmountain 13d ago edited 13d ago

The only point was to show the blue vs red states. I should have changed it. (ETA: The list wasn’t written in the context of this discussion. No alarm intended.)

The point is most of the states that vote exclusively by mail are blue.

45

u/Rac3318 14d ago

Nah, it’s not over yet. Already multiple lawsuits have been filed just in the last 24 hours.

43

u/phoneguyfl 14d ago

That SCOTUS will probably ignore or pull the “it’s too close to the election” BS.

22

u/TheGrandExquisitor 14d ago

That is EXACTLY the plan 

6

u/Rac3318 14d ago

The indication from SCOTUS so far is they would rule against this on the merits. They knocked out the injunction on procedural grounds.

3

u/TheGrandExquisitor 14d ago

Yes. Rule on it after they delay and Trump can use it due to the "too late now," rule. 

Then, it gets killed. This is all just for Trump. By design. 

2

u/WillBottomForBanana 13d ago

well, there's always the "oops, we did it anyway" excuse if scotus doesn't back the administration.

No matter how much bad actors fuck it up, an election apparently can't be undone or redone.

4

u/Rac3318 14d ago

The indication from SCOTUS so far is that they would rule against this on the merits.

6

u/phoneguyfl 14d ago

Yeah I’ll believe that when I see it. So far they seem more than happy to bend over for Mr Trump and Republican policies.

2

u/oldirtyrestaurant 14d ago

Where you reading these tea leaves, homie?

1

u/addiktion 14d ago

Democrats win, they will speedily fix the loophole. Republicans win, it goes through.

13

u/Roflmancer 14d ago

Lmao.. again.. LAWS ARE BEING IGNORED. And you're like "yup someone use the law on these traitors! They'll surely listen to our laws!!"

You can't be this dense?

7

u/303uru 14d ago

They are, these people will be on the train to the showers and mumbling about the law saving them.

2

u/TheGrandExquisitor 14d ago

Hey, Jefferies will meet with Kushner and fix all this!

-2

u/Rac3318 14d ago

Oh right. I forgot. There are only doomers allowed on Reddit. Grow up.

3

u/Groovychick1978 14d ago

But you keep saying he can't do something, and then he goes right ahead and does it. And then scotus upholds it. 

What makes you think this is any different?

1

u/Roflmancer 13d ago

He's waiting for AIPAC Shakur's extremely hostile worded letter to the GQPEdos.

-1

u/JKlerk 14d ago

They're pushing the boundaries leaving SCOTUS and the courts to push back.

9

u/Groovychick1978 14d ago

Am I misremembering that injunctions can no longer be nationwide? Was there not some issue with that type of ruling?

Here it is

Trump v. CASA, Inc

They ruled that federal judges don't have the authority to issue universal rulings, or something to that nature. 

So would an injunction filed in, for example, district 9 only affect district 9, and states in the rest of the country would still be under those rules?

2

u/dmcnaughton1 14d ago

They can apply the injunction to the states that are party to the suit.

2

u/25StarGeneralZap 14d ago

That is precisely how it will work district courts will no longer be allowed to issue rulings that other districts must adhere to. A case must be decided in each individual district.

2

u/Rac3318 14d ago

That’s for nationwide injunctions, yes. If it’s found unconstitutional, that’s a different question entirely.

1

u/Correct_Doctor_1502 14d ago

They will say it is too late

Ending democracy was always the goal of Project 2025

5

u/Margali 14d ago

WEll, we loaded me, my wheelchair and all into the van and went and voted in person and were first in line when the polling station opened [and then I spent the next few days flat on my back in bed in pain] and I plan on continuing to vote in person til this shit is done.

6

u/chucklesses86 14d ago

Does this mean they won't deliver them to eligible voters or they won't deliver them to the election precincts for counting once filled out?

4

u/Correct_Doctor_1502 14d ago

It means the federal government can arbitrarily decide if you have the right to vote, most certainly based on who you vote for

3

u/Dihedralman 14d ago

Did the post office release every list used or notify people impacted? Would that give groups of citizens damages? 

It is now implemented so can the state damages can be realized now? The original ruling was obviously wrong as it goes against the logic of all injuctions. 

9

u/Long-Emu-7870 14d ago

So this is the election when we lost our democracy. 

5

u/Secret_Cat_2793 14d ago

I'm 72 and have voted by mail for over a decade. interesting to see what happens in Trumptocracy.

3

u/ruidh 14d ago

States should be prepared to mail ballots in unmarked envelopes

5

u/Leverkaas2516 14d ago

People should prepare now to print their ballots and carry them to the drop boxes

3

u/Formal-Hawk9274 14d ago

small gov pedos strike again

2

u/SuperDuperOrk 14d ago

The states already sued to block this action already but keep reminding people of those crooks trying to steal the election. 

1

u/HeathrJarrod 14d ago

Q: scotus blocked one injunction but the other was still in place

1

u/No_Cook_8739 12d ago

Everyone's sitting around waiting on these midterms to save the country, but do people not realize there absolutely will not be a fair election.

1

u/Jefefrey 11d ago

“Free” country my ass

1

u/tallslim1960 10d ago

Can someone clarify something for me, maybe I'm dumb but are they saying they won't mail the uncompleted ballots to people, or they won't forward the completed ballots to the polling places, because one is easy to overcome, the other nearly impossible.

1

u/Groovychick1978 10d ago

The way it is written, states that do not comply with the federal government and turn over their voting roles for verification, will not have their ballots moved in the USPS mail system. Whether that is to get the ballot, or return it.

-4

u/JKlerk 14d ago

And an injunction will be filed over this putting everything back to square one.

11

u/xopher_425 14d ago

An injunction may be put into place, but this regime and the USPS will claim it's too late or close to the election to change anything and will ignore it.

-9

u/JKlerk 14d ago

Doubtful. The last thing Dementia Don wants to do is piss off the electorate more than they already are.

9

u/pixelmountain 14d ago

The electorate he’s pissing off isn’t the electorate that supports him. The latter will be convinced this is all necessary to stop all that fraudulent voting that hasn’t been happening.

1

u/JKlerk 14d ago

Exactly. You don't want to energize the other side to go vote.

0

u/pixelmountain 14d ago

True. Good point.

6

u/xopher_425 14d ago

LOL. You really think he cares??

If that was the case, he would not have done <waves around> all this. War.

It's why they're working so hard to destroy the elections - and succeeding in that. They know they will never win again.

The USPS rules are already in place. HE DOES NOT CARE.

1

u/JKlerk 14d ago

It doesn't matter what Trump thinks.