US midterm election mail-in voting rules creating chaos

The first phase of the US midterm elections on November 3 began with North Carolina sending out mail-in ballots. However, ongoing legal battles over mail-in voting rules are creating uncertainty about whether millions of voters will receive their ballots on time. The Trump administration is attempting to reinstate restrictions previously blocked by courts through the Supreme Court.

Trump claims without evidence that mail-in voting is open to fraud and wants states to prepare eligible voter lists and expand postal authority to reject ballots. Experts warn that if new rules are implemented, millions of Americans may not receive their ballots on time or at all. While the administration argues procedures are necessary for election security, Democrats say the move aims to restrict voting rights.

With 45 days until the election, 18 states are preparing to distribute mail-in ballots; local election offices are under time pressure to comply with possible new rules regarding envelopes, software, and staff training. According to a Cornell University model, Democrats' probability of controlling the House of Representatives is forecast at eight out of eight, putting the Republican majority at risk.