The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has retreated from a plan to collect data on millions of Americans who vote by mail. The plan was part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March, which aims to restrict mail ballots.

Background

The executive order requires states to submit lists of potential mail voters to the Postal Service if they want ballots delivered. It also directs Homeland Security to compile lists of voting-age citizens in each state. The order has faced several lawsuits ahead of the November midterm elections.

On Monday, the Justice Department filed a notice in federal court that significantly hedged the data-sharing plan. The notice stated that the idea of collecting data on mail-in voters is still in the early stages and depends on the approval of a new U.S. Postal Service rule for mail ballots.

Reactions

Democrats and voting rights groups have argued that the executive order represents an unconstitutional attempt by Trump to assert authority over elections. They also claim that the order endangers the independence of the Postal Service.

Michael McNulty, the policy director at Issue One, a group focused on protecting American democracy, said that the Justice Department’s notice appears to anticipate that a court will block the Postal Service’s new rule. David Becker, a former Justice Department Voting Rights Section attorney, said that the Trump administration is trying to ‘run the clock out’ in legal challenges until it’s too late for courts to act or judicial action would cause chaos.

Original reporting: Renton Reporter — read the source article.