South Carolina’s Attorney General is among less than half of Republican state attorneys general who have formally opposed a request for a preliminary injunction against a federal order impacting mail voting. This development comes as a federal judge is set to hear arguments on the injunction request this Thursday, September 3.
The order, issued by former President Donald Trump, and a related US Postal Service (USPS) rule, are facing legal challenges from Democratic attorneys general and voting rights organizations. These groups argue the measures are unconstitutional and could disrupt mail voting programs, potentially disenfranchising voters.
Attorneys general from 12 Republican-led states, including South Carolina, Alabama, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, South Dakota, and Texas, filed their opposition over the weekend. They contend that the new requirements, which could lead to the USPS refusing to deliver certain mail ballots, are merely modest mailing conditions designed to enhance the security of mail-in voting. This stance aligns with the Department of Justice’s position, which has also downplayed the order’s potential impact.
Notably absent from this legal action are 15 other Republican state attorneys general. When contacted, Utah and Tennessee declined to comment, and the remaining 13 did not respond to inquiries. This silence is significant, as all 27 Republican attorneys general previously supported other Trump administration initiatives, such as efforts to exclude transgender athletes from girls’ sports and the use of the Alien Enemies Act for deportations.
In contrast, Democratic attorneys general have unanimously united to challenge the order and the USPS rule. In a recent lawsuit, 24 attorneys general, alongside Pennsylvania’s Governor, argued that if not halted, the USPS rule would hinder states from administering their mail voting programs in November and could disenfranchise mail-in voters. A federal judge in Massachusetts, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani, has already issued a 14-day temporary restraining order related to the matter.
