Federal judge lifts nationwide block on mail-in voting restrictions

A federal judge in Boston on Wednesday lifted a nationwide block on mail-in voting restrictions, temporarily clearing the way for the Trump administration to begin implementing them ahead of the November midterms.

U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani granted the Justice Department’s request to reconsider her earlier injunction in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling that found a separate lawsuit challenging President Trump’s order was premature.

“In sum, the court finds that, in light of the Supreme Court’s decision in Trump v. California, Plaintiff Organizations are not likely to prevail as to ripeness without amending their complaint to reflect the fact that a Final Rule has now issued,” Talwani wrote in a nine-page order .

The case was brought by the League of Women Voters and other voting rights groups, who are expected to file a supplemental complaint now that the Postal Service has finalized its rule.