Oregon’s chief legal officer, Attorney General Dan Rayfield, filed a federal lawsuit today seeking to stop a newly adopted U.S. Postal Service regulation that would restrict delivery of mail‑in ballots to voters listed on a federal database. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court, is backed by a coalition of 23 states, the District of Columbia and Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro.
Legal basis of the challenge
The complaint argues that the rule, which stems from an executive order issued on March 31 by President Donald Trump, oversteps federal authority and infringes on state powers guaranteed by the Constitution. Rayfield contends the regulation also conflicts with existing postal statutes, procedural requirements, the Privacy Act and federal voting‑rights laws.
What the rule requires
Under the new policy, the Postal Service will only deliver mail‑in ballots to voters who have been added to a state‑specific list transmitted to the agency. States must first register eligible mail‑in voters with the Postal Service, create a distribution list, and obtain Postal Service approval for any new ballot‑envelope designs. Voters not appearing on the list would not receive a ballot.
Impact on Oregon’s vote‑by‑mail system
Oregon has conducted fully vote‑by‑mail elections for more than 25 years, a system praised for its security, convenience and high participation rates. Rayfield warned that the federal directive threatens the state’s proven framework, saying, “The Constitution is clear: no President has the authority to take over or interfere with any state’s elections. We’re not going to let Trump dictate who gets to vote and we’re not going to let him put the Postal Service between Oregon voters and their ballots.”
State election officials now face a tight timeline to redesign ballot envelopes, establish the required voter‑list transmission process, train staff and issue public guidance—all without additional federal funding.
Broader implications
The lawsuit follows a Supreme Court decision on August 24 that dismissed an earlier challenge for being filed too early. By filing a new complaint, the coalition aims to halt the rule while the case proceeds, seeking a temporary restraining order to keep the regulation from taking effect.
Legal experts note that the outcome could reshape how mail‑in voting is administered nationwide, especially in states that rely heavily on postal ballots. If the court sides with the plaintiffs, it would reaffirm state authority over election administration and preserve existing mail‑in voting practices.
Next steps
The plaintiffs have asked the court to strike down the Postal Service rule and issue an injunction pending further litigation. A hearing date has not yet been set. In the meantime, Oregon officials say they will continue to prepare for the upcoming general election using the current vote‑by‑mail procedures that Oregonians have trusted for decades.
Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.
