Judge blocks USPS mail-voting rule as ballots head to homes for midterms

A federal judge blocked a Trump administration USPS rule aimed at regulating mail-in voting, saying the rushed implementation less than two months before the 2026 midterms would likely disenfranchise millions and lacks evidence of fraud to justify the changes. The preliminary injunction allows states to follow the rule if they choose but halts its immediate effect for the upcoming election, while the DOJ appeals to the Supreme Court. North Carolina has begun mailing ballots under state law, and the ruling underscores ongoing legal battles over election procedures and timelines ahead of the midterms.