USPS publishes new rule requiring states to submit voter data before mailing ballots
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) on Friday adopted new standards for mail-in and absentee ballots used in federal elections, requiring states to submit voter and ballot-tracking information through a new federal portal before ballots can enter the mailstream.
Under the policy, states that decline or fail to provide required lists of voters could have their ballots rejected for delivery by the USPS.
USPS adopts new rule requiring states to submit voter data before mailing ballotsPDF preview
USPS adopts new rule requiring states to submit voter data before mailing ballots
“The Postal Service is amending the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, regarding the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections pursuant to its rulemaking authority,” according to the rule.
“Any state that intends to receive mail-in or absentee ballots from individual voters through the Postal Service must ensure that such individuals have been enrolled with the Postal Service for inclusion on the state’s Mail-In and Absentee Participation List,” the rule noted.
The rule follows President Donald Trump’s efforts to impose requirements on mail-in voting ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.
In March, Trump issued an executive order — entitled Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections — that seeks to create a national voter list to guide the USPS in deciding who gets a mail ballot.
The Trump administration has said the measures are intended to strengthen election security and ensure that mail-in ballots are sent only to eligible voters.
The rule faces a legal barrier. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction earlier this month preventing USPS from implementing or enforcing the relevant portion of Trump’s executive order for the 2026 elections. The order also blocks the USPS from refusing to transmit mail-in or absentee ballots under the challenged provision.
The dispute comes as states prepare for the November 3 midterm elections, with mail-in voting remaining a major point of contention between the administration and election officials.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.