President Donald Trump on Tuesday expressed strong disappointment with the U.S. Supreme Court after it rejected his push to restrict mail-in voting in this year’s November elections.
In an emergency order, the court ruled the restrictions would likely lose in court, at least for this year’s election.
South Dakota Secretary of State Monae Johnson was one of the Republican election officials opposing a proposed change to mail-in voting requirements.
That put her on the opposing side of South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley on the implementation timeline of the rule.
Trump has been critical of mail-in voting, asserting that it is more susceptible to fraud compared to in-person voting.
Johnson signed on to an amicus brief in the U.S. Supreme Court. Johnson’s position in the brief is that the changes would disrupt election processes across the country if they took effect immediately.
On the other hand, South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley's Office signed on as an intervening state in support of enacting Trump's changes by November.
Some states have already begun mailing absentee ballots to voters. South Dakota’s absentee voting begins this Friday on Sept. 18.
In question was a presidential executive order and a U.S. Postal Service Final Rule that restrict mail-in voting. Those have drawn opposition from Democratic states and voting rights groups.
Trump’s order required USPS to issue regulations prohibiting the mailing of ballots for voters who are not included on new postal service lists of “enrolled” mail voters.
