USPS Halts Development of Mail Voting System After Court Ruling

Why it matters locally: While Hawaii has established vote-by-mail as its standard election method, the halt in a national USPS mail voting system development could impact future federal support or integrated services for the state's election infrastructure.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy stated Thursday that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has stopped development on a computer system designed for mail voting. This halt follows the Supreme Court's rejection of an executive order this week. The executive order related to former President Donald Trump's efforts to regulate mail voting. The USPS had been working on the system, which represented a central element in discussions surrounding mail-in ballots during the previous administration. DeJoy's announcement clarifies the agency's current position on the system's future development.