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US Postal Service election regulations
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
USPS published a 95-page final rule restricting mail ballots, requiring states to share voter data. The rule faces court injunctions and could affect November midterm elections.
Background
The USPS rule stems from President Trump's March executive order seeking to restrict mail-in voting. It would require states to provide voter data to the federal government before USPS delivers ballots. The rule is currently blocked by court injunctions, but USPS published it anyway, hoping for relief from the courts.
How it unfolded
- Mar 2026President Trump signed an executive order to restrict mail ballots and create state-by-state voter lists.
- Apr 2, 2026Voting-rights groups sued the Trump administration, claiming the executive order was unconstitutional and could disenfranchise voters.
- Aug 2026U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani blocked USPS from adopting the rules ahead of the November elections.
- Aug 21, 2026USPS published a 95-page final rule implementing the executive order, despite the court injunctions.
Who’s saying what
- Official
- USPS says the rule regulates mail use for operational efficiency and does not amount to election administration.
- Critics
- Critics accuse the Trump administration of exerting federal oversight on election administration, which is a state responsibility.
- Voting-rights groups
- Voting-rights groups argue the rule is unconstitutional and could disenfranchise eligible voters.
Still unverified
The rule's implementation is uncertain due to court injunctions; the Supreme Court could rule on the matter at any moment.