{"id":2663275,"date":"2026-09-17T10:31:11","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:31:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/legal-expert-explains-lifeline-kavanaugh-tucked-inside-supreme-courts-mail-in-ballot-ruling\/"},"modified":"2026-09-17T10:33:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-17T14:33:26","slug":"legal-expert-explains-lifeline-kavanaugh-tucked-inside-supreme-courts-mail-in-ballot-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/legal-expert-explains-lifeline-kavanaugh-tucked-inside-supreme-courts-mail-in-ballot-ruling\/","title":{"rendered":"Legal Expert Explains &#8216;Lifeline&#8217; Kavanaugh Tucked Inside Supreme Court&#8217;s Mail-In Ballot Ruling"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Flegal-expert-explains-lifeline-kavanaugh-tucked-inside-supreme-courts-mail-in-ballot-ruling%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2663275&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>The provided content discusses a recent Supreme Court decision regarding a Trump administration plan to implement new mail-in ballot handling rules for elections, which was blocked by a lower court and upheld by the Supreme Court in a 7-2 ruling. Justice Brett Kavanaugh indicated that while applying the rule in the 2026 elections might be arbitrary due to timing issues, there is a reasonable possibility that the rule falls within the Postal Service&#8217;s statutory authority, making it feasible for implementation in the 2028 election. The ruling means the rule, which would require ballots to include a special logo and barcode to prevent fraud, is unlikely to be enforced for the upcoming midterm elections but might be revisited before the 2028 presidential race. The decision was influenced by timing concerns, with dissenting justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito opposing the majority. Legal analysts express optimism that further litigation could eventually allow the rule&#8217;s implementation in future elections. The case remains active, with ongoing debates about the regulation of election procedures and voter integrity initiatives.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><br \/>\n<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\"><br \/>\n<?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><html><body><\/p>\n<section> \t\t\t\t<script>console.log(\"ad slot (AC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC1)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC2)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC3)\")<\/script><script>console.log(\"ad slot (IC4)\")<\/script><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A Supreme Court ruling that went against President Donald Trump\u2019s plan for mail-in ballots may not be the last word on the subject, according to a legal analyst.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The U.S. Postal Service had adopted new rules for handling ballots that would take effect in this year\u2019s midterm elections. In a 7-2 vote, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling that prevented the rule from taking effect, as noted by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2026\/09\/14\/supreme-court-blocks-trump-mail-in-ballot-plan-01076079\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Politico<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.supremecourt.gov\/opinions\/25pdf\/26a305_4g15.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">concurring opinion<\/a>, Justice Brett Kavanaugh said that \u201capplying the rule in the 2026 elections would be arbitrary and capricious in violation of the Administrative Procedure Act because state and local election officials do not have sufficient time to reasonably implement the rule before the elections.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, he also wrote, \u201cIn my view, based on the briefing the Court has received at this interim stage, there is at least a fair prospect that the final rule falls within the Postal Service\u2019s statutory authority.\u201d<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Those words could be a bridge to putting the rule in play for the 2028 presidential elections, according to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxnews.com\/politics\/kavanaugh-throws-trump-lifeline-mail-ballot-rules-despite-supreme-court-loss-midterms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox News<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI would note though that Justice Kavanaugh threw the government a lifeline by saying that he views it as likely that they do have the statutory authority. And I think if you read the dissent, you can see where Justices Thomas and Alito are on questions like that as well,\u201d Jason Snead, executive director of Honest Elections Project, said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented in the ruling.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think there\u2019s a fair chance that it winds back up in front of the Supreme Court eventually,\u201d Snead told Fox News.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-layout-index=\"5\">\u201cI do think that as a practical matter, the rule is not going to be implemented in time for the midterms,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cI think that\u2019s a done deal at this point. But I do hold out hope that there will be some additional litigation over this that could allow this rule to be implementing ahead of the 2028 presidential election,\u201d Snead continued.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The rule would require federal ballot envelopes to include an election-mail logo and a unique barcode for each voter as a way to prevent fraud.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A group of 24 Democratic state attorneys general sued, saying only Congress can regulate elections. The Trump administration said it was simply overseeing mail, not elections.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cSo this case is still alive and well, and I think that Kavanaugh has given us all some hope that as it progresses eventually, this rule might be allowed to go into effect hopefully in time for the 2028 election since the left has successfully killed it for 2026,\u201d Snead continued.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-layout-index=\"5\">Iowa Solicitor General Eric Wessan noted that timing was a major factor in the decision.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-layout-index=\"5\">\u201cSo I\u2019m not surprised now, close to the deadline when ballots have to go out to people that the Supreme Court took the approach of maintaining the status quo, although I think that Justice Alito\u2019s dissent highlights a lot of issues with the approach taken by the majority, and I would not be sure that the same result would be what the Supreme Court reaches in advance of, for example, the 2028 election,\u201d Wessan said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cThis rule won\u2019t be in effect for the 2026 election, but it very well may end up in effect for the 2028 election, and this is just one of many actions the administration is taking to help with voter integrity,\u201d Wessan said.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-layout-index=\"5\">Snead noted that the time argument will not stand up between now and 2028.<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\" data-layout-index=\"5\">\u201cSo they\u2019re going to have a difficult time and a steeper hill to climb if they\u2019re trying to explain in 2027, for instance, why they can\u2019t possibly comply with basic rules like this over a two-year time frame,\u201d Snead said.<\/p>\n<div style=\"background-color: #f7f7f7; color: #171717; display: flex;font-size: 16px;font-weight: 600;line-height: 1.5;margin: 24px 0;padding: 18px 20px 18px 30px;text-align: left;\">\n<div style=\"align-self: stretch;border-left: 3px solid #171717;flex-shrink: 0;padding-left: 20px;\"><\/div>\n<p><a style=\"text-decoration: none;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.google.com\/preferences\/source?q=https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/\">Choose The Western Journal as your preferred source on Google and never miss reporting that defends truth, protects freedom, and advances Western civilization<\/a><\/div>\n<p style=\"border: 1px solid #f5f5f5; padding: 16px;\">Advertise with The Western Journal and reach millions of highly engaged readers, while supporting our work. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/advertise-us\/?wj_source=article\">Advertise Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div style=\"position: relative;\">\n<div class=\"ff-fancy-header-container\"> \t\t\t \t<\/div>\n<div class=\"entry-submit-correction inner-content\">\n<div class=\"correction-form\">\n<form style=\"display: none;\">\n<div class=\"sc-name-field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* Name<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"name\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<div class=\"sc--field\"> \t\t\t\t\t\t<label>* <\/label> \t\t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"\" required> \t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<label>* Message<\/label> \t\t\t\t\t<br \/> \t\t\t\t\t<textarea name=\"message\" required><\/textarea> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"required-message\" style=\"display: none; padding-bottom: 15px;\">* All fields are required.<\/div>\n<p> \t\t\t\t\t<input type=\"submit\" value=\"Submit\" onclick=\"event.preventDefault(); firefly_sc();\"> \t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n<div class=\"firefly-sc-confirm\" style=\"display: none;\">Success!<\/div>\n<\/p><\/form>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p> \t\t<script> \t\t\tfunction firefly_sc() { \t\t\t\tif( typeof window.captchaPublicKey == typeof undefined ){ \t\t\t\t\tconsole.error('window.captchaPublicKey is not defined'); \t\t\t\t} \t\t\t\tgrecaptcha.execute( window.captchaPublicKey, { action: 'submit_correction' } ).then( function( token ) { \t\t\t\t\tvar opts = { \t\t\t\t\t\taction:    'firefly_sc_submit', \t\t\t\t\t\tname:      document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"name\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\t:     document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tmessage:   document.querySelector( '.entry-submit-correction [name=\"message\"]' ).value, \t\t\t\t\t\tpost_id:   firefly_post_id, \t\t\t\t\t\tcap_token: token \t\t\t\t\t}  \t\t\t\t\tvar inputs = [ 'name', '', 'message' ];  \t\t\t\t\tfor( var i = 0; i < inputs.length; i++ ) if( ! 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The Postal Service had new rules for ballots set for this year&#8217;s midterms. In a 7-2 ruling, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court&#8217;s decision to block the rules from taking effect. Justice Kavanaugh concurred, noting that applying the rule in 2026 would be arbitrary but leaving open the possibility it falls within postal authority for future elections, potentially 2028. Justices Thomas and Alito dissented. Experts believe further litigation could bring these rules into effect by 2028, as timing remains a key issue for implementation before the next presidential election<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2663276,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-17T092028.671.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[9068,4431,32275],"class_list":["post-2663275","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-kavanaugh","tag-legal","tag-supreme-court"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.westernjournal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/Ben-Working-Feature-Image-2026-09-17T092028.671.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2663275","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2663275"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2663275\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2663278,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2663275\/revisions\/2663278"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2663276"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2663275"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2663275"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2663275"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}