Arizona joins new lawsuit opposing Trump’s postal service rule for mail voting

Arizona joined a coalition of more than 20 states Wednesday in a lawsuit challenging a new U.S. Postal Service rule that imposes restrictions on voting by mail.

The lawsuit argues, among other things, that USPS and the president don’t have any authority over how states operate elections.

“The Constitution is crystal clear: States run their elections — not the postal service and not the president,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a press release.

The disputed rule was issued Friday to carry out a March 31 executive order from President Donald Trump. It would require states to submit a list of every voter eligible to vote by mail to USPS ahead of the upcoming midterm general election. If the rule goes into effect, USPS will not deliver mail-in ballots from anyone who isn’t on their state lists.

Time is of the essence with the lawsuit if nationwide changes are to be implemented before the Nov. 3 election. Early voting in Arizona starts Oct. 7, and some states begin sooner.

“Arizonans have voted safely and securely by mail for decades,” Mayes said. “In a system designed by Republicans, over three-quarters of Arizonans use vote by mail. This attempt to inject chaos and doubt into our election system would harm the millions of Republicans, Democrats and independents who choose to vote by mail as they exercise their constitutional right to vote.”

Voting lawsuit follows Supreme Court ruling on earlier legal action

The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court of the District of Massachusetts two days after the U.S. Supreme Court opened a path for possible implementation of Trump’s executive order. That ruling left room for additional court challenges.

Mail balloting has long been a favorite target for Trump, who has claimed that it breeds fraud despite strong evidence to the contrary and his own use of the voting method.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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