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Postal Service restricts mail ballots

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The gist

USPS published a 95-page final rule restricting mail ballots to states sharing voter data.
The rule is blocked by court injunctions but could take effect if the Supreme.

Background

The rule stems from an executive order President Trump signed in March, which sought to restrict mail voting and create state-by-state lists of citizens to determine voting eligibility. The USPS finalized the rule on Friday, despite two federal court injunctions currently blocking its implementation. The rule would require states to submit voter names, addresses, and barcodes tied to mail-in ballots to a new Federal Ballot Mail Portal, and the Postal Service would refuse to deliver ballots in non-compliant states. The move comes ahead of the November midterm elections, with nearly one in three Americans voting by mail in 2024.

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 2026President Trump signed an executive order directing USPS to implement new requirements for mail voting, including restricting mail ballots and creating state-by-state lists of citizens.
  2. Jun 2026Postmaster General David Steiner defended the plan, arguing it would ensure ballots are matched to what states send out.
  3. Aug 18, 2026A federal judge blocked the USPS from implementing part of the executive order, adding to an earlier injunction.
  4. Aug 21, 2026USPS published a 95-page final rule on Friday, detailing how it would restrict mail ballots, despite the injunctions.
  5. Aug 26, 2026The rule is scheduled to be formally published in the Federal Register.

Who’s saying what

Official
Postmaster General David Steiner defended the plan, saying it would ensure ballots match what states send out.
Critics
Critics slammed the effort, warning the Postal Service could use the rules to gather voter information and reject ballots in non-compliant states.

Still unverified

Trump's claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 election are unsubstantiated; the executive order is based on these claims.

Sources

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