Twelve Republican state attorneys general are trying to revive Trump’s restrictions on mail ballots. The Trump administration is not appealing the ruling blocking them. An unusual commitment to states’ rights: the right to demand more federal instructions.

The officials began their appeal November 12, the deadline the Justice Department confirmed it would let pass. The blocked Postal Service rule would require states to supply voters’ names and addresses for ballot delivery. Judge Carl Nichols, a Trump appointee, found USPS likely lacked congressional authority for key parts of the rule. Owning the trucks does not automatically make you the legislature.

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The restriction remains blocked for all federal elections. In a separate midterm case, Justice Brett Kavanaugh left open a fair prospect that the rule fell within USPS authority, while agreeing officials lacked time to implement it. That is a possible legal future, not permission to start collecting names. The post office’s ambition is arriving well ahead of its authorization.

Two of the states pursuing this appeal, Texas and Kansas, elected Democratic attorneys general who take over in January. NPR reports it is unclear how long those states will remain in the case.

Before the government gets its new list of voters, this lawsuit may need a new list of attorneys general.