Vermont Attorney General Charity Clark Wednesday, August 26 joined 24 other state attorneys general Wednesday in suing the U.S. Postal Service over new rules governing the delivery of mail-in ballots, arguing the changes unlawfully interfere with states’ authority to administer elections.
The lawsuit follows an Aug. 21 USPS rule requiring states to register voters eligible to vote by mail with the Postal Service and comply with new ballot-envelope requirements. According to Clark’s office, USPS would not deliver ballots to voters absent from its lists or ballots using envelopes that fail to meet the new standards.
“Mail-in voting is safe and secure and makes it more accessible for Vermonters, especially across our rural state, to participate in our democracy,” Clark said. She said the rule would create “confusion and chaos” shortly before the November election.
Secretary of State Sarah Copeland Hanzas also criticized the rule, noting that nearly two-thirds of Vermont voters used early voting, largely by mail, in the last two general elections. More than 237,000 Vermonters, or 64% of voters, voted early in 2024, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
The coalition contends the rule violates the Constitution, federal postal law, the Privacy Act and federal voting-rights law. It is asking a federal court to strike down the rule and issue a temporary restraining order blocking it while the lawsuit proceeds.
The rule stems from a March 31 executive order issued by President Donald Trump seeking, among other changes, a national list of voters eligible to receive ballots by mail.
Clark’s office said Wednesday’s lawsuit is the 64th case she has brought against the Trump administration since Trump returned to office in January 2025.