Judge removes one hurdle for Trump mail voting order as states file new challenge before midterms

Notably, a federal judge on Wednesday lifted a major obstacle to President Donald Trump's executive order limiting mail voting, even as Democratic state authorities filed a new court challenge with the midterm elections fast approaching.

Key points

• District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston agreed to lift an order prohibiting the U.S.
• The administration can now move forward and implement a Postal Service rule published late Friday.
• Talwani nevertheless remarked the executive order could unleash "chaos" and referred to it as "probable unconstitutional."
• The first mailed ballots are set to be sent out next week.

In practice, the fresh round of legal wrangling comes just two days after the Supreme Court handed down a procedural ruling in Trump's favor, and could mean the matter lands before the high court again before the pivotal contests for control of Congress. The first mailed ballots are set to be sent out next week.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston agreed to lift an order prohibiting the U.S. Postal Service from carrying out Trump's order for November's elections. She wrote that she was "compelled" to do so after the Supreme Court's conservative majority ruled that a similar injunction she granted in a separate case was premature.

For context, the administration can now move forward and implement a Postal Service rule published late Friday. It would require states to follow a uniform envelope style for mail ballots and to offer the Postal Service a list of voters eligible to receive them.

Taken together, the developments around judge removes one hurdle for Trump mail voting order as states file point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.