US Postal Service Proposes Rule on Mail Voting Ahead of 2026 Elections

The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced a proposed rule that would limit mail voting by sending ballots only to voters registered with the federal government. This proposal, set to be formally published next week, follows an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump in March 2026, which directed USPS to use federal lists for mail ballots. The order is currently facing multiple lawsuits, with a federal judge recently declining to block its implementation. Legal experts and voting rights organizations have raised concerns that this move could infringe on constitutional voting rights and state authority over elections. The proposed rule would require state election officials to submit a list of voters requesting mail-in ballots at least 30 days before ballots are sent out. If voters are not on this list, they will not receive a ballot. The USPS indicated that mail voters' names would be linked to a unique barcode to ensure compliance with federal law.