Trump administration appeals ruling blocking mail voting order

The Trump administration has filed an appeal against a federal judge's ruling that temporarily blocked an executive order imposing new restrictions on mail-in voting, just days before states are set to begin sending out ballots for the midterm elections.

The notice of appeal was submitted on Friday, following a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani in Boston that halted implementation of the order for two weeks. The Supreme Court had earlier allowed the plan to proceed on procedural grounds, but has not yet ruled on its legality.

The executive order, signed by President Donald Trump, would allow the U.S. Postal Service to refuse delivery of mail ballots from states that do not provide lists of eligible voters and adopt a uniform envelope style. Judge Talwani found that states lack the time and financial resources to redesign ballots, update systems, and train officials to comply with the new data-sharing requirements.

The White House has defended the order as a set of "commonsense measures" intended to safeguard ballot security. However, the first mail ballots for the general election are scheduled to be dispatched on September 4, leaving little room for further legal delays.