Judge permits USPS ballot-portal work while barring compulsory state participation

A federal judge said the U.S. Postal Service may establish its Federal Ballot Mail Portal and communicate mail-ballot design standards to states, provided participation is not required. The decision came as an anonymous federal whistleblower alleged that the portal is untested and could have significant operating problems when released. USPS said it is finalizing the portal for voluntary use by election officials and said its work complied with court orders. The whistleblower's disclosure said a failed barcode scan in a sampled ballot batch could cause the entire batch to be returned to state officials for correction.