USPS Halts Development of Mail Voting System After Court Ruling

Why it matters locally: The halt in development of a national mail voting system by the USPS could affect future election administration in Illinois, which utilizes mail-in ballots and has established procedures through the Illinois State Board of Elections.

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.