The United States Postal Service (USPS) is on the brink of implementing new regulations that could significantly impact mail-in voting for the upcoming November midterm elections. These changes come despite active court injunctions that currently prevent the rules from taking effect. The USPS acknowledged these legal hurdles in a final rule published late on Friday, which is scheduled to appear in the Federal Register next week.
The new regulations, mandated by a March executive order signed by Donald Trump would require states to provide the Department of Homeland Security and other federal agencies with lists of eligible voters. Additionally, states would need to adopt new balloting procedures before the USPS would agree to deliver ballots. Failure to comply could result in the USPS refusing to deliver ballots to non-compliant states.
Legal challenges and ongoing disputes
The federal government has taken legal action against 30 states and Washington DC for their refusal to hand over lists of eligible voters. Despite the ongoing legal battles, the Trump administration is pushing forward with plans that could disrupt mail-in voting. The USPS has indicated its readiness to implement the new restrictions if the court injunctions are lifted.
In the text posted online Friday, the USPS stated that the new restrictions on mail-in voting would be implemented immediately if the injunctions are lifted. This would provide election officials with as much time as possible to comply with the new standards for Federal Ballot Mail envelopes and to prepare to submit data to the Federal Ballot Mail Portal (Portal). The Portal is set to become active at the time of the publication of the system of records governing the Portal.
The impact on mail-in voting
Nearly one in three Americans voted by mail in 2026, highlighting the importance of mail-in voting in the electoral process. However, Trump has expressed a desire to restrict the number of voters by limiting ballots cast by mail. The executive order signed in March prohibits the USPS from delivering ballots to any voters not on a federal list of citizens deemed eligible to vote in each state by the Department of Homeland Security.
The USPS proposal seeks to require states to provide the names and barcodes tied to mail-in ballots for federal elections. The service received more than 200,000 responses during a public comment period on the proposed rule change. Notably, Trump himself voted by mail in Florida’s Republican primary this year, marking at least the third time he has mailed in his ballot.
The future of mail-in voting
The implementation of these new regulations could have far-reaching consequences for mail-in voting in the upcoming elections. As the legal battles continue, the USPS remains poised to enforce the new requirements if the injunctions are lifted. This development underscores the ongoing tension between federal agencies and states over voting rights and procedures.
The outcome of these legal challenges will likely shape the landscape of mail-in voting in the years to come. As the November midterm elections approach, all eyes are on the USPS and the federal courts to see how this situation will unfold.
