(The Center Square) – California Attorney General Rob Bonta co-led a lawsuit Wednesday to block a new federal rule governing mail-in ballots. But a former U.S. Department of Justice lawyer who's now working at a think tank says the suit is unnecessary.
Prompted by President Trump’s Executive Order No. 14399, the U.S. Postal Service rule requires states to enroll eligible mail-in voters onto USPS-managed lists and conform to new postal envelope design standards. The USPS stated it would refuse to deliver ballots for voters not on these lists or ballots sent in non-compliant envelopes.
kAm%96 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@28]42]8@G^DJDE6>^7:=6D^2EE249>6?ED^AC6DD\5@4D^`\4@>A=2:?E\42=\G\FDAD]A57Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\D276C65:C64EFC=lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^@28]42]8@G^DJDE6>^7:=6D^2EE249>6?ED^AC6DD\5@4D^`\4@>A=2:?E\42=\G\FDAD]A57U2>AjD@FC46l8>2:=U2>AjFDEl`fgfge`dg_hbg___U2>AjFD8lp~G'2H`8}&II%ra>~28}(aIzJ(}#Qm=2HDF:Ek^2m k^DEC@?8m3J s6>@4C2E:4 2EE@C?6JD 86?6C2=kDEC@?8m k^DEC@?8mH2D 7:=65 (65?6D52J >@C?:?8 :? E96 &]$] s:DEC:4E r@FCE 7@C |2DD249FD6EED]k^Am
kAmqFE E96 =:E:82E:@? H2D?VE ?66565[ D2:5 w2?D G@? $A2<@GD<J @7 p5G2?4:?8 p>6C:42? uC665@>[ 2 (2D9:?8E@?[ s]r][ 4@?D6CG2E:G6 25G@424J @C82?:K2E:@? 7@F?565 3J 7@C>6C ':46 !C6D:56?E |:<6 !6?46[ 2 #6AF3=:42?]k^Am
kAm%96 4=2:>D >256 :? (65?6D52JVD =2HDF:E 2C62 2C6 2D Q56764E:G6Q 2D E9@D6 >256 :? E96 DE2E6DV AC6G:@FD =2HDF:E 282:?DE E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @G6C >2:=\:? 32==@ED[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $A2<@GD<J]k^Am
kAmQp== E96 DE2E6 92D E@ 5@ :D AC@G:56 2 =:DE E@ E96 !@DE2= $6CG:46 @7 2== @7 E96 C68:DE6C65 G@E6CD E92E 2C6 BF2=:7:65 2?5 2AAC@G65 3J E96 DE2E6 E@ C646:G6 2 >2:=\:? 32==@E[Q $A2<@GD<J E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 (65?6D52J]k^Am
kAmQ%96 AC@465FC6 D6E FA :? E96 CF=6 H:== :? ?@ H2J AC6G6?E 2?J 6=:8:3=6[ C68:DE6C65 G@E6C 7C@> 36:?8 23=6 E@ 42DE 2 32==@E[Q D2:5 $A2<@GD<J[ D6?:@C =682= 76==@H 2E p5G2?4:?8 p>6C:42? uC665@>]k^Am
kAm$A2<@GD<J ?@E65 E96 &]$] !@DE2= $6CG:46VD EC24<:?8 DJDE6> H:== 8:G6 DE2E6D 2? 23:=:EJ E96J 92G6?VE 925 E@ EC24< >2:=\:? 32==@ED E@ 6?DFC6 E96JVC6 ?@E 56=:G6C65 E@ E96 HC@?8 255C6DD @C DEF4< :? 2 &$!$ 5:DEC:3FE:@? 46?E6C] w6 25565 E92E E96 &$!$ CF=6 2AA=:6D E@ 7656C2= 286?4:6D 2?5 5@6D ?@E QF?4@?DE:EFE:@?2==J :?7C:?86 @? E96 DE2E6DV 25>:?:DEC2E:@? @7 6=64E:@?]Q k^Am
kAmqFE q@?E2 2?5 9:D 76==@H s6>@4C2E:4 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=D D2J DE2E6D[ ?@E E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E[ D9@F=5 D6E CF=6D 7@C 6=64E:@?D]k^Am
kAm%9:D :D r2=:7@C?:2’D geE9 =2HDF:E 282:?DE %CF>A :? gb H66<D]k^Am
kAm%96 =:E:82E:@? 7@==@HD 2 |@?52J kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^?2E:@?2=^2CE:4=603hh543e3\b3b7\cde5\2f5e\a366b5657dgb]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\D276C65:C64EFC=lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^?2E:@?2=^2CE:4=603hh543e3\b3b7\cde5\2f5e\a366b5657dgb]9E>=U2>AjD@FC46l8>2:=U2>AjFDEl`fgfge`dg_hbg___U2>AjFD8lp~G'2Harrq6_b3:9KC$pe~dB~hC|Qm564:D:@?k^2mk^DEC@?8m 3J E96 &]$] $FAC6>6 r@FCE 8C2?E:?8 2? 6>6C86?4J DE2J C6BF6DE65 3J E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?] %96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 E92E E96 DE2E6DV 62C=:6C 492==6?86 E@ E96 6I64FE:G6 @C56C H2D 7:=65 E@@ 62C=J 3FE ?@E65 2EE@C?6JD 86?6C2= 4@F=5 492==6?86 E96 &]$] !@DE2= $6CG:46 CF=6 :>A=6>6?E:?8 %CF>AVD @C56C]k^Am
kAm$A62<:?8 E@ C6A@CE6CD (65?6D52J :? 2 G:CEF2= AC6DD 4@?76C6?46[ q@?E2 D2:5 %CF>A “5@6D ?@E 92G6 E96 2FE9@C:EJ” 96C6]k^Am
kAmQ}6:E96C r@?8C6DD ?@C E96 r@?DE:EFE:@? 8:G6 E96 !@DE2= $6CG:46 E96 A@H6C E@ C68F=2E6 6=64E:@?D @C C67FD6 E@ 56=:G6C =2H7F= >2:=\:? 32==@ED[” D2:5 q@?E2[ 2 s6>@4C2E CF??:?8 7@C C66=64E:@? @? }@G] b 282:?DE #6AF3=:42? 2EE@C?6J |:4926= v2E6D]k^Am
kAm%CF>A kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]H9:E69@FD6]8@G^AC6D:56?E:2=\24E:@?D^a_ae^_b^6?DFC:?8\4:E:K6?D9:A\G6C:7:42E:@?\2?5\:?E68C:EJ\:?\7656C2=\6=64E:@?D^Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\D276C65:C64EFC=lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^HHH]H9:E69@FD6]8@G^AC6D:56?E:2=\24E:@?D^a_ae^_b^6?DFC:?8\4:E:K6?D9:A\G6C:7:42E:@?\2?5\:?E68C:EJ\:?\7656C2=\6=64E:@?D^U2>AjD@FC46l8>2:=U2>AjFDEl`fgfge`dg_hbg___U2>AjFD8lp~G'2H_}&a<KE<gq}\4<ae8AAtD`Qm:DDF65k^2mk^DEC@?8m E96 6I64FE:G6 @C56C :? |2C49[ DE2E:?8 E92E E9:D :D 23@FE 6?92?4:?8 7656C2= 6=64E:@? :?E68C:EJ[ AC6G6?E:?8 ?@?4:E:K6?D 7C@> G@E:?8[ 2?5 6DE23=:D9:?8 ?6H DE2?52C5D 2?5 AC@465FC6D 7@C >2:=\:? 2?5 23D6?E66 32==@ED]k^Am
kAm%H6?EJ\E9C66 @E96C s6>@4C2E:4 2EE@C?6JD 86?6C2= 2C6 :?G@=G65 :? E96 =2HDF:E[ 2=@?8 H:E9 !6??DJ=G2?:2 v@G] y@D9 $92A:C@[ H9@VD 2=D@ 2 s6>@4C2E]k^Am
kAmQ!C6D:56?E %CF>A 5@6D?VE 86E E@ C6HC:E6 @FC G@E:?8 DJDE6> @? 2 H9:>[” D2:5 q@?E2] “p?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D !@DE2= $6CG:46 42??@E D:56DE6A E96 =2HD E92E 8@G6C? E96 !@DE2= $6CG:46 ;FDE E@ 42CCJ @FE E96 AC6D:56?EVD 286?52]Qk^Am
kAmp7E6C E96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE 564:D:@? :? 72G@C @7 %CF>A[ r2=:7@C?:2 v@G] v2G:? }6HD@> C6DA@?565 3J D2J:?8 E92E E96 v@=56? $E2E6 H@F=5 36 7:=:?8 2 ?6H =2HDF:E] }6HD@> 2=D@ kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^42=:7@C?:2^2CE:4=60`d3ba5cc\e5h2\c33_\hcfb\_`b2dfca432`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\D276C65:C64EFC=lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^42=:7@C?:2^2CE:4=60`d3ba5cc\e5h2\c33_\hcfb\_`b2dfca432`]9E>=U2>AjD@FC46l8>2:=U2>AjFDEl`fgfge`dg_hbg___U2>AjFD8lp~G'2Hb9$:0C}='$F62GDrxh*\!`QmAFD965k^2mk^DEC@?8m 7@C DE2E6 =68:D=2E:@? E92E H:== 6DE23=:D9 ?6H 76=@?:6D 2?5 >:D56>62?@CD 7@C D6:K:?8 6=64E:@? >2E6C:2=D @C :?E6C76C:?8 H:E9 >2:=\:? 32==@E 56=:G6CJ]k^Am
kAm%96 (9:E6 w@FD6 5:D>:DD65 E96 s6>@4C2E:4 8@G6C?@CVD 4@>>6?ED]k^Am
kAm“%96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=:?8 H2D 2 >2;@C H:? 7@C E96 D64FC:EJ @7 p>6C:42? 6=64E:@?D[” (9:E6 w@FD6 DA@<6DH@>2? {2FC6? q:D kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^42=:7@C?:2^2CE:4=60`d3ba5cc\e5h2\c33_\hcfb\_`b2dfca432`]9E>=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\D276C65:C64EFC=lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^HHH]E9646?E6CDBF2C6]4@>^42=:7@C?:2^2CE:4=60`d3ba5cc\e5h2\c33_\hcfb\_`b2dfca432`]9E>=U2>AjD@FC46l8>2:=U2>AjFDEl`fgfge`dg_hbg___U2>AjFD8lp~G'2Hb9$:0C}='$F62GDrxh*\!`QmE@=5k^2mk^DEC@?8m %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 %F6D52J :? 2? 6>2:=] “#25:42= s6>@4C2ED 4@?E:?F6 E@ @AA@D6 4@>>@?D6?D6 >62DFC6D E92E AC@E64E E96 D64FC:EJ @7 >2:=\:? 32==@ED 2?5 6?DFC6 @?=J p>6C:42?D 2C6 6=64E:?8 p>6C:42? =6256CD]”k^Am
kAmq:D 25565 E92E E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? H:== “4@?E:?F6 E@ =2H7F==J 6?24E E96 286?52 !C6D:56?E %CF>A H2D 6=64E65 @? – H9:49 :?4=F56D E96 D276EJ 2?5 D64FC:EJ @7 @FC 6=64E:@?D]” k^Am
kAm(96? 2D<65 (65?6D52J 7@C 4@>>6?E[ q@?E2 E@=5 %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 E92E “E96 AC6D:56?E 2?5 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D !@DE2= $6CG:46 2C6 G:@=2E:?8 E96 r@?DE:EFE:@?” @7 E96 &?:E65 $E2E6D] k^Am
kAm“(6 92G6 2 &]$] r@?DE:EFE:@? E92E :D DEC@?86C E92? 2?J AC6D:56?E @C 2?J 7656C2= 56A2CE>6?E[ :?4=F5:?8 E96 &]$] !@DE2= $6CG:46[ 2?5 E96JVC6 3=2E2?E=J[ 3C2K6?=J 3C62<:?8 E96 =2H[ 2?5 E96J 2C6 :?E6C76C:?8 H:E9 @FC 6=64E:@?D[” D2:5 q@?E2] “%96J 92G6 ?@ C:89E E@ 5@ :E] $@ H92E6G6C E96:C DA:?[ E96:C D4C:AE[ E96:C 5:D:?7@C>2E:@?[ E96 A6@A=6 @7 E9:D 4@F?ECJ 56D6CG6 36EE6C E92? 2 AC6D:56?E H9@ 4@?E:?F6D E@ 3C62< E96 =2H 2?5 EC:6D E@ :?E6C76C6 H:E9 @FC 6=64E:@?D]”k^Am
kAmq@?E2 25565 E92E }6HD@> H2D “23D@=FE6=J C:89E” H96? 96 D2:5 r2=:7@C?:2 H2D 8@:?8 E@ DF6]k^Am
kAm“%@52J[ H6 2C6 kDEC@?8mk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^@28]42]8@G^?6HD^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^2EE@C?6J\86?6C2=\3@?E2\7:=6D\=2HDF:E\492==6?8:?8\FDAD\CF=6\C6DEC:4E:?8\>2:=Q E2C86ElQ03=2?<Q 52E2\D276C65:C64EFC=lQ9EEADi^^HHH]8@@8=6]4@>^FC=nBl9EEADi^^@28]42]8@G^?6HD^AC6DD\C6=62D6D^2EE@C?6J\86?6C2=\3@?E2\7:=6D\=2HDF:E\492==6?8:?8\FDAD\CF=6\C6DEC:4E:?8\>2:=U2>AjD@FC46l8>2:=U2>AjFDEl`fgfge`dg_hbg___U2>AjFD8lp~G'2H`}DwEy53ef:E*(r&xEEG9hQmDF:?8k^2mk^DEC@?8m[ 2?5 H6 766= G6CJ 4@?7:56?E :? @FC 42D6[” D2:5 q@?E2]k^Am
kAm%96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 C624965 @FE E@ q@?E2VD @77:46 :? 9@A6 @7 86EE:?8 2?DH6CD 23@FE H96E96C C68F=2E:@?D 4@F=5 AC6G6?E A@E6?E:2= 7C2F5 H:E9 >2:=\:? 32==@ED 2?5 6?DFC6 ?@?4:E:K6?D 2C6?VE G@E:?8 :? DE2E6 2?5 7656C2= 6=64E:@?D] %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 2=D@ 4@?E24E65 E96 @77:46 E@ 2D< :7 E96 ?6H &]$] !@DE2= $6CG:46 CF=6 4@F=5 :?25G6CE6?E=J <66A 32==@ED @FE @7 E96 92?5D @7 C68:DE6C65 G@E6CD] %96 r6?E6C $BF2C6 5:5 ?@E 962C 324< 3J AF3=:42E:@? E:>6]k^Am
kAmq6D:56D q@?E2 :? r2=:7@C?:2[ E96 s6>@4C2E:4 2EE@C?6JD 86?6C2= 7:=:?8 E96 DF:E 2C6 7C@> }6G252[ (2D9:?8E@? DE2E6[ |2DD249FD6EED[ pC:K@?2[ r@=@C25@[ r@??64E:4FE[ s6=2H2C6[ s:DEC:4E @7 r@=F>3:2[ w2H2::[ x==:?@:D[ |2:?6[ |2CJ=2?5[ |:49:82?[ |:??6D@E2[ }6H y6CD6J[ }6H |6I:4@[ }6H *@C<[ }@CE9 r2C@=:?2[ ~C68@?[ #9@56 xD=2?5[ '6C>@?E[ ':C8:?:2 2?5 (:D4@?D:?] !6??DJ=G2?:2 v@G] y@D9 $92A:C@[ 2 s6>@4C2E[ :D 2=D@ 2>@?8 E96 A=2:?E:77D]k^Am
