FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Restraining Order Temporarily Blocks Postal Service from Restricting Mail Ballots

Denver, CO - Today, the United States District Court of the District of Massachusetts granted a temporary restraining order against the United States Postal Service. This temporary restraining order stops the Postal Service from taking any “further preparatory steps” or implementing its rules to regulate mail ballots for 14 days.  

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold has issued the following statement:

Today marks a significant win in the fight to stop Donald Trump from unlawfully weaponizing the Postal Service to restrict access to mail ballots. Trump does not have the authority to decide which voters can receive a mail ballot or impose his own rules on our elections. We will fight his unlawful effort to suppress the vote.

On August 26, Colorado joined 23 other states and the District of Columbia in suing the United States Postal Service to stop the Postal Service from limiting who can receive a mail ballot.The lawsuit comes after the Postal Service formally adopted rules in accordance with President Trump’s March 31, 2026 Executive Order. Separately, the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts filed a similar lawsuit. The Temporary Restraining Order responds to motions for a restraining order from both cases.

On Monday, August 24, the United States Supreme Court allowed parts of the President’s Executive Order on mail ballots to proceed. In their decision, the Supreme Court noted that lower court decisions to halt parts of the Executive Order came too early because agencies – including the Postal Service – had not yet implemented the order, and no rules were in place to do so. 

On August 20, the United States Postal Service published an advance copy of a final rule related to the Executive Order on mail ballots. That publication noted that rules would be in immediate effect after publication on August 26, but would only apply to the 2026 General Election if court actions preventing implementation were lifted. 

Executive Order 14399 is the second Executive Order issued directly related to election administration during Trump’s second term. The President’s first executive order on elections issued during his second term, which sought changes to voter registration requirements, has been largely enjoined.

There are currently 68 days until the midterm election.  

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