This headline is misleading; the Court didn't "clear the way" for the vote-by-mail restrictions executive order, but rather dismissed one of two lower court injunctions currently blocking it, on relatively narrow procedural grounds. The court hasn't yet ruled directly on the legality of the EO's substance.
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@mattblaze @AssociatedPress I read the opinion—and the two dissents are blistering. I urge everyone to read it themselves: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/26a124_hgci.pdf
@SteveBellovin @AssociatedPress They are indeed. But even setting that aside, the ruling is procedural and narrow, and doesn't actually do what the headline claims.
@mattblaze @AssociatedPress The dissents, especially Jackson's, make it absolutely clear what's going on. And it is rather odd that this opinion, issued today, focuses on the assertion that there was no final plan, when the NY Times reported on Friday (https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/21/us/politics/postal-service-rule-restrict-mail-ballots.html?unlocked_article_code=1.71A.nd40.MCdeuiDdAwbt&smid=nytcore-ios-share) that a final plan had just been issued.
@SteveBellovin In fairness, I think the issue is that the briefs don't respond to the the final plan (which hadn't been issued when they were filed). I suspect the case would now be ripe for re-filing, under the majority's logic.
But I agree strongly with the overall conclusion. It's ABSURD that this has even gone this far, and suggests that we are hanging by a thread.
@mattblaze thanks for clarifying this.
I trust your opinion far above news media.
As a practical matter, it's unlikely that the vote-by-mail restrictions will have significant practical effect on the 2026 midterms, even the Court ultimately allows them (which it is not at all clear they will). It's just too close to the election at this point.
I mean…maybe. But all it takes is a small amount of fuckery in a few state capitals or simply something that brings the whole election’s legitimacy into doubt.
I am not sure my vote for James Talarico will be accurately counted. I am worried the election will be “canceled” by Trump, which of course doesn’t mean anything but then Republican majority states pass some emergency legislation that appoints GOP senators directly and fucks with the House and we get a constitutional crisis.
@rk Stop it. Your're spreading speculative misinformation that will discourage people from voting.
The actual facts and details matter a lot here.
If you change your voting plans based on any of this - you're doing exactly what the Trump administration wants you to do.
If you worry your vote doesn't count or matter - that's exactly the kind of self-imposed withdrawal they'd love to see you do.
Vote!!!!
Hence my comment that I don’t wanna be a pessimist doomer. I still hope.
My concern is that this ruling will get translated as "Trump/SCOTUS has outlawed vote-by-mail", which is simply not true.
No one should alter their voting plans for 2026 based on today's ruling.
@mattblaze If the USPS refuses to deliver ballots, whether they legally can or not, it'll disrupt mail voting. I agree with you about not needing to do anything now, but I'd keep an eye on the situation as the election nears.
Having them deliver the blank ballots but then accept and hold the returned ballots would be the hardest to deal with.
Remember, the administration has attempted a LOT of outrageous things. Thus far the courts, including the Supreme Court, have allowed some of them but rejected others. No one can predict with certainty how things will ultimately play out with the vote-by-mail restrictions, and it is by no means over or a foregone conclusion.
One thing that's certain: The syllabus for my elections course this semester is already a work of fiction, and will no doubt have little relationship to what we cover each week.
@mattblaze Everyone’s worried the regime will alter election rules. I’m not sure why this suddenly is an emergency. All the regime needs to do is refuse to respect the results, a strategy for which the usual suspects have been laying the groundwork for decades. The whole “democracy is tyranny” trope has been coming out of the [Slavery] Foundation long before the regime came to power.
@LabSpokane The midterms are about congress (and various state and local offices). There’s fortunately no modern history of either branch of congress failing to recognize election outcomes and seating actual certified winners. That could change, but it’s not something that there’s any reason to believe will happen this year.
@mattblaze
Utah has refused to turn over voter information. Will we have to find another way to distribute ballots?
@mattblaze Yeah, but corporately captured news media, so they push their agenda, not journalism.
