By VDC staff

Vermont’s mail-ballot system will proceed without new federal Postal Service restrictions after the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday left in place a lower-court order blocking the rules for the November election.

Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas welcomed the Sept. 14 decision Tuesday and said Vermont ballots will be mailed by Oct. 1.

“This ruling is a win for all voters and for democracy,” Copeland Hanzas said. “Vermonters can be assured that they will get their ballots via mail and can enjoy the convenience of voting securely from home.”

The dispute grew out of a March executive order from President Donald Trump directing the U.S. Postal Service to develop new requirements for mail ballots, including new envelope and tracking standards and voter-list verification. The administration said the measures were intended to strengthen election integrity. USPS later adopted a rule implementing new requirements for the November election, but states and voting groups challenged it in federal court.

A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the USPS rule from taking effect for the election. The Postal Service asked the Supreme Court to allow the rule to take effect while the case continued.

The Supreme Court declined that request Monday, leaving the lower-court injunction in place.

Copeland Hanzas thanked Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark’s office for its work in the case and said state and local election officials could now move ahead with preparations.

“The Constitution is clear: states control elections,” Copeland Hanzas said. “I look forward to putting the chaos of this month’s long legal battle behind us and continuing our work to hold a free, fair, accessible, and secure General Election here in Vermont.”

Ballots will be mailed to Vermont voters by Oct. 1. Copeland Hanzas recommends that voters returning ballots by mail send them by mid-October.

Voters may also return ballots through their town’s secure drop box or directly to their town clerk before Election Day. Ballot status can be tracked through the Vermont Voter Portal.

Vermonters who want to vote in person on Election Day may do so. Copeland Hanzas encouraged them to “BYOB” — bring your own ballot — by taking the ballot they received in the mail to the polls.