North Carolina becomes first state to send out mail-in ballots for US midterms

State decides to proceed hours after Trump administration asks supreme court to let it carry out proposed crackdown

North Carolina became the first state to start sending out mail-in ballots for November's US midterm elections on Friday, as Donald Trump's administration fights to impose sweeping restrictions on the practice before millions of Americans cast their votes.

The state's decision to proceed - hours after Trump's officials asked the supreme court to let the administration press ahead with its proposed crackdown - comes amid deep uncertainty over whether new federal rules governing mail ballots will be allowed to take effect, and whether the US Postal Service can implement the changes in time.