ATLANTA — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is among a bipartisan group of state and local election officials urging the U.S. Supreme Court not to allow new mail ballot restrictions to take effect before the November election.
In a court brief, 38 current and former election officials from 10 states argued that there is not enough time to implement the Trump administration’s proposed U.S. Postal Service voter verification plan without creating problems for voters and election workers.
The officials did not take a position on whether the plan is legal. Instead, they argued that election offices are already preparing for November and do not have sufficient time to test and implement the changes.
“Attempting to implement the rule now will almost certainly lead to mistakes, delays and confusion for both voters and election officials,” the brief states.
The Trump administration asked the Supreme Court on Sunday to allow the restrictions to take effect in time for the midterm elections.
The request came after U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani extended an order blocking the Postal Service from enforcing President Donald Trump’s executive order before November.
Solicitor General John Sauer argued that election preparations are already underway, noting that North Carolina has begun sending ballots and that Alabama and several other states are preparing to do the same.
“Once those ballot envelopes enter the mailstream, there is no retrieving them,” Sauer wrote.
The administration has now asked the Supreme Court to intervene three times in the legal battle. While the court has allowed parts of the plan to move forward, it has not ruled on whether the policy is legal.
Democratic-led states, voting rights groups and some election officials argue the Postal Service changes are unconstitutional and could create problems for voters who rely on mail ballots. They also contend that states do not have enough time to update their systems before November.
The Trump administration maintains that the restrictions are common-sense measures that fall within its authority to regulate the mail.
Administration lawyers have argued that states would still determine voter eligibility, maintain voter rolls and decide which mail ballots are counted.
“The Postal Service will not play any role in determining voter eligibility, maintaining voter rolls or counting ballots,” the administration said.
The American Civil Liberties Union also opposes the proposal.
“With fewer than 60 days to go before the November election, there is not a shred of evidence that states could comply with it without disenfranchising voters who rely on mail ballots,” said Sophia Lin Lakin, director of the ACLU’s Voting Rights Project.
The legal fight continues as states begin mailing ballots, leaving little time for any major election changes before voters head to the polls in November.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.
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