SPOKANE, Wash. — Washington joined 24 other states in filing a lawsuit against the United States Postal Service on Wednesday over mail-in voting regulations the state contends violate voter privacy and impose added costs on the state.
The legal challenge marks the latest development in a dispute that began in March when President Donald Trump signed an executive order directing the USPS to create specific regulations for mail-in voting. The president has publicly stated his desire to eliminate mail-in voting in nearly all circumstances.
“The Supreme Court lifted the injunction that was on the United States Postal Service rule that said we had to give them a list, and the envelopes had to be of a certain design with a barcode, individual barcode on it,” Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs said.
Hobbs expressed concern about the implementation timeline, particularly for overseas voters.
“There’s no vendor out there that can print all of these envelopes in time,” Hobbs said. ” Most of them are servicemen or members defending our country, defending our democracy. And we’re not going to be able to help them on the return envelope.”
The new lawsuit filed Wednesday by Washington and 24 other states hopes to once again pause the regulations that officials say burden states and election offices. Hobbs said he feels confident that pause will be granted.
Election officials recommend that voters bring any questions about mail-in ballots to the county auditor’s office.
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