The US Postal Service announced Friday its intention to publish a final rule imposing new requirements on states regarding voter information ahead of the November midterm congressional elections. The rule would require states to provide voter lists to the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies, along with adopting new balloting procedures, as a condition for the USPS to deliver mail-in ballots. If states declined to comply, the postal service indicated it would refuse ballot delivery.
The proposed rule stems from a March executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. According to the USPS text posted online, the agency acknowledged that two federal court injunctions—one from California and one from Massachusetts—currently bar implementation of these changes. Despite these legal obstacles, the administration indicated readiness to proceed should the courts lift the injunctions. The USPS stated that obtaining relief from the injunctions would allow election officials time to comply with preparation standards before mail-in and absentee ballots are distributed, typically beginning in September.
The federal government has initiated litigation against 30 states and Washington DC for refusing to provide voter eligibility lists. The proposed rule would require states to submit voter names and barcodes associated with mail-in ballots for federal elections through a new Federal Ballot Mail Portal system. The USPS reported receiving more than 200,000 public comments during the comment period for the proposed changes.
Proponents of the restrictions argue they aim to ensure ballot delivery security, while critics contend the measures could restrict voter access. The rule’s implementation remains contingent on the outcome of ongoing legal challenges to the executive order.
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