The Northeast Is Going to Court Over Trump's Mail Voting Plan

A growing coalition of Democrat-led states is heading back to court over the Trump administration's effort to reshape mail-in voting.

And the Northeast is heavily represented.

New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and other Democratic-led states joined a new federal lawsuit this week challenging a U.S. Postal Service rule tied to President Donald Trump's executive order on mail voting. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is also part of the legal challenge.

The lawsuit was filed after the U.S. Supreme Court cleared one major legal hurdle for the Trump administration earlier this week.

That gave the states an opening to file again once the Postal Service finalized its rule.

The new USPS rule would require states to provide lists identifying eligible mail-ballot recipients and use standardized, barcoded ballot envelopes. States argue the changes would force them to overhaul election procedures just as preparations for the 2026 midterms are already underway.

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell said the rule would require states to make major changes on an "impossible timeline."

New Jersey Attorney General Jennifer Davenport announced Wednesday that the state was joining the 25-state coalition challenging the rule.

Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha also joined the lawsuit, arguing the Postal Service is attempting to take control over an area traditionally handled by the states.

The lawsuit argues that the USPS does not have the authority to regulate how states administer mail voting and claims the new requirements could disrupt elections if implemented before November.

A federal judge has already criticized the Postal Service's handling of the rulemaking process, while separate legal challenges remain active.

For Trump and his allies, the push is part of a broader effort to tighten election procedures and address vulnerabilities in mail voting.

Now the fight is back in federal court with ballots set to go out in some states within weeks.