The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit has temporarily allowed the U.S. Postal Service to proceed with a proposed rule regarding federal election ballots. This rule requires states to verify voter registration data before USPS will mail ballots. The appellate court granted USPS's request to stay a previous district court injunction that had halted the rule. A three-judge panel found the NAACP's challenge to be premature, as the rule is still in its proposed form. They also determined the measure is unlikely to violate a 2021 agreement concerning timely election mail delivery. The court stated that the appellants had met the stringent requirements for pausing the lower court's order. The proposed rule originates from an executive order directing federal agencies to create "citizenship lists" to aid states in verifying voter eligibility. This order also aims to enhance tracking for mail-in and absentee ballots. A district judge had previously blocked the rule, siding with the NAACP's argument that it conflicted with a settlement. However, the D.C. Circuit's order does not decide the ultimate lawfulness of the rule. This ruling is being celebrated as a victory for election integrity.