SALEM, Ore. -- A federal court late Thursday granted a temporary restraining order blocking key provisions of the U.S. Postal Service’s rule restricting delivery of mail-in ballots, siding with Oregon and a coalition of states that sued to stop it from taking effect ahead of the November election.

“This is a win for every Oregon voter,” said Attorney General Dan Rayfield said in a news release issued Friday. “Oregonians have trusted vote-by-mail for more than 25 years because it works. It’s secure, it’s convenient, and it lets every eligible voter make their voice heard – and today the court agreed that Donald Trump can’t upend that system just a few months before ballots go out.

“The Postal Service does not get to decide who receives a ballot in Oregon. That authority belongs to the states, and this order confirms it. While this fight isn’t over, this ruling means Oregon voters can count on the system they know as we head into the fall election.”

The court’s order temporarily blocks the key provisions of the USPS rule for 14 days, giving the court time to rule on the states’ motion for a preliminary injunction.

AG Rayfield and the coalition – 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the Governor of Pennsylvania – filed the lawsuit Wednesday. It argues that USPS’s rule violates the Constitution, which makes clear that states have the primary authority to administer elections, and upends successful, longstanding vote-by-mail procedures.

The lawsuit also argues the rule is inconsistent with USPS’s governing statutes, ignores USPS’s procedural requirements, violates the Privacy Act, and is inconsistent with federal voting rights law.

The USPS will be blocked from implementing many of the rule’s provisions related to the November election for at least 14 days.

Governor Tina Kotek issued this statement, applauding Rayfield's legal victory in the fight to protect vote-by-mail:

“Another important win for Oregon voters. A federal court just temporarily blocked the Trump Administration’s attempt to disrupt Oregon’s vote-by-mail system. Oregon has shown the country that vote-by-mail works. It’s secure, trusted, and gives every eligible Oregonian a voice. Thank you, AG Rayfield. We’ll keep standing up for Oregon voters!”

Oregon Secretary of State Tobias Read released the following statement:

“The Constitution is clear: states run elections. The USPS doesn’t get to pick and choose who gets ballots. Presidents don’t get to rig elections via executive decree. The USPS rule and the executive order it came from are unconstitutional.

“This order provides more certainty for voters and elections officials in the middle of a major election. While this is a win, we will continue to aggressively pursue every available tool we have to protect every Oregon citizen’s right to vote. I’ve said it before and I will say it again: Oregon elections are secure, accurate and fair, and we’re going to keep it that way.”