On August 26, 2026, California Attorney General Rob Bonta, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell, Nevada Attorney General Aaron Ford, and Washington Attorney General Nick Brown co-led a coalition of 24 attorneys general and the governor of Pennsylvania to block a rule issued by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that unlawfully attempts to interfere with states’ constitutional authority to administer elections. 

On March 31, 2026, Donald Trump issued his second elections-related Executive Order (EO)– No. 14399 – which attempted to restrict voter eligibility and mail-in voting.  The EO directs federal agencies to create and maintain master federal voter rolls and pressures states and local election offices to rely on those voter rolls under threat of investigation, prosecution, or withholding of federal funds. It also requires the United States Postal Service (USPS), an independent federal agency, to refuse to deliver mail ballots from voters who are not included on a federal voter roll, directly interfering with states’ mail voting systems.  

Following a separate attorney-general-led suit in which a lower court initially blocked the EO, the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the lower court’s ruling. The Supreme Court did not weigh in on the legality of the EO but instead stated that it was too early in the process for the state’s to challenge the federal government’s action.  

Then, on August 26, 2026, the USPS published its final rule to implement Donald Trump’s EO. The rule requires states to register with USPS every voter who is eligible to vote by mail and tasks USPS with compiling state-specific voter lists. The rule also establishes new design requirements for the mail-in ballot envelopes created by states, which states are required to meet and get approved by USPS. Under the rule, USPS will not deliver ballots to voters who do not appear on the USPS-generated lists and will not deliver ballots in envelopes that fail to comply with the rule’s new standards.   

States have just weeks to comply with the new rule before the midterm elections in November. States and localities have already been preparing for the November 2026 general election and, in many cases, have designed and purchased ballot envelopes based on existing USPS guidance. The new requirements could force election officials to purchase new envelopes and equipment, establish new systems for submitting and updating voter information, and train staff – imposing significant costs and administrative burdens with the election just weeks away. If states or local election officials cannot comply in time, eligible voters could be prevented from receiving or returning their ballots. 

The coalition argues that the rule violates the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution, which bestows authority for election administration on the states, not the federal government. The coalition is asking the court to declare the USPS rule unlawful, immediately block USPS from enforcing the rule while the case proceeds, and permanently strike down the rule.  

On August 27, 2026, the court issued a temporary restraining order blocking the new USPS rule from taking effect.  

The Constitution is clear: states control elections—not the president, The U.S. Postal Service doesn’t have the authority to deny Washingtonians the ability to vote. We will protect the rule of law. Attorney General Nick Brown

President Trump has made it clear that he will never stop attempting to interfere with the rights of the states to conduct their elections, and I want to make it clear that every time he tries, we will drag him to court and we will beat him. While the president spreads lies about our democracy and our elections, Nevadans know that the Silver State’s elections are free, fair and safe. Our citizens are allowed to vote — securely and safely — in the manner that works best for them, and my office will stand against any efforts to deprive our voters of those choices.Attorney General Aaron Ford