Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and eight other Democratic governors are urging the U.S. Postal Service to withdraw a proposed rule tied to a presidential executive order concerning mail-in voting.
The proposed rule would implement part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March directing federal agencies to help create state lists of eligible voters and limiting mailed ballots to voters on those lists.
However, a federal judge has blocked the executive order, ruling that election rules are set by states and Congress, not the president.
In a letter sent Thursday, Pritzker and the governors of California, Connecticut, Minnesota, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington and Wisconsin argued the proposed rule could undermine voter confidence, complicate voting procedures and interfere with states’ constitutional authority over elections.
The governors also expressed concern the proposal could allow the Postal Service to refuse delivery of ballots if states do not comply with the executive order.
The U.S. Postal Service has not publicly responded to the letter.
The executive order has also drawn criticism from postal workers and voting rights groups. Legal challenges remain ongoing, and both the executive order and the proposed rule continue to face court scrutiny.