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A federal appellate panel on Saturday rejected the Trump administration’s request to lift a lower court’s injunction blocking the U.S. Postal Service from enforcing President Donald Trump’s March executive order targeting mail-in ballots as part of Republicans’ broader attack on voting rights.

A three-judge panel of the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled 2-1 against a motion by the administration seeking a pause on U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani’s June order blocking major portions of Trump’s directive, which is aimed at restricting postal voting, including by directing the USPS to ensure that mailed ballots have unique barcodes and envelope logos.

“Under the Constitution, state and local officials are responsible for administering federal elections,” Judges Gustavo Gelpí and Julie Rikelman — both appointed by former President Joe Biden — wrote in a joint opinion. “In the spring of 2026, President Trump issued an executive order with nationwide effects on how state and local officials can administer federal elections, including the upcoming primary and general elections in September and November. In particular, the executive order directed substantial involvement by the United States Postal Service in deciding which ballots sent to and from voters would be........

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