California voters can continue casting ballots by mail under the state's existing election rules after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to let the U.S. Postal Service enforce a controversial new mail voting policy before November's midterm elections.
The ruling leaves in place a lower court order blocking a USPS rule that would have required states to provide lists of mail ballot recipients and use ballot envelopes with unique barcodes approved by the Postal Service. Under the blocked rule, USPS could have refused to process ballots that did not meet the new standards.
For California, where vote-by-mail is the primary way elections are conducted, the decision removes uncertainty just weeks before ballots begin arriving in voters' mailboxes.
What did the Supreme Court decide about mail-in voting?
The Supreme Court rejected an emergency request from the Trump administration to lift a nationwide injunction preventing the Postal Service from implementing the new mail ballot requirements ahead of the Nov. 3 elections. The court said the government was unlikely to succeed in overturning the lower court's ruling.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined the majority and wrote separately that, while the Postal Service may ultimately have authority to adopt such a rule, implementing it so close to the election would likely violate the Administrative Procedure Act because election officials do not have sufficient time to comply.
Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.
How does the ruling affect California vote-by-mail ballots?
For now, nothing changes for California voters.
The Postal Service cannot require California election officials to submit lists of mail ballot recipients or redesign ballot envelopes to comply with the blocked rule. Existing vote-by-mail procedures remain in place while litigation continues in federal court.
California Attorney General Rob Bonta said the decision means "Trump's unlawful executive order remains BLOCKED" and that the administration and USPS will not be able to interfere with vote-by-mail ballots before the upcoming election.
Secretary of State Shirley Weber said voters can cast ballots "without uncertainty, without hesitation, and without fear that their voices will be questioned or their ballots rejected," according to statements released Monday.
Gov. Gavin Newsom also praised the ruling, calling it "a good day for democracy, the rule of law, and the American people looking to exercise their Constitutional right to vote."
When will California voters receive their 2026 election ballots?
County election officials are scheduled to begin mailing vote-by-mail ballots to registered California voters by Oct. 5. With the Supreme Court's decision, election administrators can proceed using the same ballot processing systems and mailing procedures already in place.
The ruling is particularly significant in California because millions of voters cast ballots through the mail each election cycle, making the state one of the nation's largest vote-by-mail jurisdictions.
What were the proposed USPS mail ballot changes?
The blocked policy stemmed from a Trump administration initiative aimed at tightening mail ballot procedures before the 2026 midterm elections. Under the proposed rule:
- States would have been required to provide USPS with lists of eligible mail ballot recipients.
- Ballot envelopes would have needed unique, USPS-approved barcodes.
- The Postal Service could have declined to deliver ballots that did not meet the new requirements.
- Ballots associated with voters not appearing on state-submitted lists could have been rejected from processing.
Supporters argued the changes would help prevent voter fraud, while opponents said they risked disrupting ballot delivery and creating confusion weeks before Election Day. Courts reviewing the policy concluded there was a strong likelihood the rule could not be implemented in time for November's election.
What happens next in the lawsuit?
Monday's ruling does not permanently strike down the USPS policy. Instead, it keeps the rule on hold while legal challenges brought by California and other states continue in federal court.
For voters, however, the immediate effect is clear: California's vote-by-mail system will continue operating under existing state election rules as ballots begin going out next month.
The decision gives California voters and election officials certainty ahead of November's election, ensuring that planned vote-by-mail procedures can move forward without last-minute changes to ballot delivery requirements.
Reuters contributed to this story.
Paris Barraza is a reporter covering Los Angeles and Southern California for the USA TODAY Network. Reach her at pbarraza@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: In victory for California, Supreme Court blocks USPS mail ballot rule
