Newly proposed U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rules could jeopardize the delivery of mail-in ballots for states that do not provide voter lists to the federal government.
The proposed rules seek to comply with an executive order President Trump signed in March to crack down on voter fraud.
Postal Service won’t deliver mail ballots for states that don’t hand over voter lists, under plan for Trump directive https://t.co/RxH85ZDfpN
— Jake Tapper 🦅 (@jaketapper) June 10, 2026
CNN explained further:
If courts let the order stand, it would give the federal government an unprecedented role in elections — and could put even more voter data in the hands of Trump officials searching for supposed election fraud.
The proposed rules lay out new conditions that states would have to meet to send ballots through the mail, including giving the agency lists of all voters set to receive mail ballots.
So far, 23 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia are suing, as are Democratic Party leaders and non-partisan voter advocacy groups, setting up a potentially active summer of high-stakes judicial rulings.
The Trump administration cleared an initial legal hurdle last month, when a federal judge in Washington, DC, who is overseeing one set of the cases, declined to block Trump’s executive order, allowing the Postal Service to begin implementing it.
The Democratic Party groups are asking an appeals court to speed up its review of that decision, warning that voters around the country could be disenfranchised in this year’s midterm elections if the proposal is not blocked.
“The Postal Service serves all Americans – regardless of party, religion, or race; it is not a tool for politicians to pick which Americans get which benefits,” the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) said in a statement.
A new USPS rule created to carry out Trump’s plans to restrict mail-in voting is an “unconstitutional attack on the millions of Americans who vote by mail,” the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) said.
Congress created the USPS as an independent entity from the White House,… pic.twitter.com/IJmNDELtyr
— Democracy Docket (@DemocracyDocket) June 9, 2026
“Our public Postal Service does not block mailers from sending letters or refuse to deliver letters because of those who mailed them,” said APWU President Jonathan Smith, according to Scripps News.
“Postal workers take the sanctity of the mail seriously, and every process and policy of the Postal Service ensures that mail is accepted, processed and delivered—no matter who sent it or where it is going,” Smith added.
“The plan requires states to provide voter eligibility lists and unique barcodes to ensure ballots are sent only to approved recipients, aiming to strengthen election integrity. Public comments are due within 30 days,” The Dallas Express News noted.
USPS PROPOSES NEW RULES FOR MAIL-IN BALLOTS IN FEDERAL ELECTIONS
The plan requires states to provide voter eligibility lists and unique barcodes to ensure ballots are sent only to approved recipients, aiming to strengthen election integrity. Public comments are due within 30… pic.twitter.com/bjx4Vpd2T5
— The Dallas Express News (@DallasExpress) June 10, 2026
Scripps News noted:
The administration is pushing to finalize the rule before this year’s midterm elections, but ongoing lawsuits could delay implementation until after 2026.