The U.S. Postal Service issued requirements for handling mail ballots as the Trump administration asks the Supreme Court to revive President Trump’s executive order restricting voting by mail. The rule would require states to submit lists of voters before the Postal Service delivers their ballots.

The requirements were finalized Friday night but remain blocked by court orders. A judge in Boston froze President Trump’s executive order and later issued an injunction preventing the Postal Service from changing election procedures. The administration has asked the Supreme Court to lift the first order, but both rulings may need to be overturned before the postal regulations can take effect.

Time is becoming an obstacle. North Carolina must begin sending ballots to military and overseas voters on September 4th. Once that process starts, officials say it may be virtually impossible for states to redesign ballot materials and comply with the requirements before voting begins.

Democratic-led states and civil rights groups argue that the president lacks authority to rewrite state election rules. The Constitution gives that responsibility to state legislatures and Congress.

Elections are administered by states, while Congress holds authority to regulate federal contests. Allowing the executive branch to impose voter-list and ballot-delivery requirements would expand a far greater presidential influence over the current system.

The timing is a cause for concern for voters and election officials, as states have designed ballots and prepared instructions under rules. Requiring changes afterward could lead to inconsistent procedures, delayed deliveries, or confusion about which voters qualify. Military personnel and Americans living overseas are especially vulnerable because they need additional time to receive and return ballots.

While it’s impossible to predict exactly what impact the Supreme Court’s response will have on midterms, it’s sure to have some tangible effect. A last-minute ruling either way will be viewed through a partisan lens. Supporters believe that the requirements could improve voter-roll accuracy and election security, while opponents warn that demanding federal approval of state voter lists could block citizens from receiving ballots and shift control of elections toward the White House.

If a state’s mailing list does not match the eligibility list, some ballots may not be sent until discrepancies involving records are resolved. Recently relocated voters, people with name changes, and residents whose records contain clerical errors could face some difficulty.

Anyone planning to vote by mail should verify registration information rather than just assuming a ballot will arrive. Requesting a ballot early, tracking it, and knowing the location of a polling place or drop box will provide alternatives if delivery is delayed. Overseas citizens and military families should pay attention to deadlines because replacement ballots have to travel.

The greatest concern is that voters could be caught between rules that change after the election process has already begun. A ballot sent late or never delivered cannot always be corrected before polls close. In closely divided states, even a small number of affected voters could decide a close congressional race. The consequences would not end with delayed results; they could determine which party controls Congress, and whether or not voters accept the outcome as legitimate.