A judge temporarily blocked the agency from implementing a strict new rule governing mail voting. The policy could disproportionately affect Democrats and many battleground elections.
Page F1From§Eachthe late evening edition — 30 August 2026
Mail voting barred by rule, federal court finds laws violated Constitution
Voting by mail is a logistical process governed by both state law and federal rule. The Postal Service rule, as reported by The New York Times, could bar millions from voting by mail, ostensibly to clarify procedures. South Carolina’s mail-in voting laws, meanwhile, have been found to violate the Constitution, per a federal ruling. The gap between the rules and the rights is measurable: millions of ballots potentially blocked, and one state’s statute invalidated. The cost is not financial—it’s civic participation. The table doesn’t reconcile: the rules are written to protect integrity, but the ledger shows disenfranchisement. The court’s finding is a receipt, and the Postal Service’s rule is a debit. The question is who benefits when the columns don’t add up. Hon, the answer isn’t voters.
“They say it's about integrity, but it ends up with millions barred from voting and a judge calling the law unconstitutional. When the rules change, it's the voters who pay. The only thing protected here is power.”
“Election laws are complicated, and it's important to ensure they're followed. The Postal Service is just clarifying its procedures, and the courts sometimes disagree. That doesn't mean there's a problem—just a difference of opinion. Did I say 'barred'? Maybe that's too strong. Let's call it 'restricted.' Or maybe not.”
The receipts
The state had removed mail-in requirements for all voters over 65 originally.
This page is a back-issue: the story as it ran, receipts as they were. The current edition is at the front.