The U.S. Postal Service has proposed sweeping new rules that would compel states to provide comprehensive voter data, including names, addresses, and unique ballot barcodes, for all federal mail-in elections. Aimed at enhancing ballot tracking and election integrity, this move follows President Trump’s executive order on mail-in voting and comes amid contentious debates over states’ electoral autonomy. Democrats and voting rights groups have criticized the proposal as an attempt to suppress votes, while the administration maintains it is crucial for election security.
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has put forward a significant new proposal that would mandate states to provide comprehensive voter-level data for mail-in ballots used in federal elections. This development emerged just one day after a federal judge chose not to immediately block a related executive order from President Donald Trump, which aims to tighten mail-in voting regulations.
Under the proposed regulations, states would be required to submit to the Postal Service the names and addresses of all voters receiving mail-in or absentee ballots. Crucially, this data would also include unique barcodes linked to both the outbound and return ballot envelopes for each voter.
A mail-in ballot featuring California's Proposition 50, illustrating the process. Mike Blake | Reuters
The USPS stated that these new requirements are designed to help ascertain the total number of ballots mailed out and enable officials to compare this figure against the number of returned ballots, thereby identifying potential discrepancies for further investigation. This rule would apply to general, special, and runoff federal elections, though primaries and ballots for military and overseas voters would be exempt.
This proposal marks a pivot for the USPS, moving from merely recommending best practices for ballot mail to making them mandatory for federal elections. The new rules would necessitate official 'Election Mail' logos, comprehensive tracking barcodes, and a robust reporting system that directly links individual voters to their specific ballot envelopes.
Leveraging this data, the USPS intends to create state-specific "Mail-In and Absentee Participation Lists," accessible through a new Federal Ballot Mail Portal. Furthermore, the proposal would grant the USPS authority to return any outbound federal ballot mailings that do not comply with the new standards or are not aligned with state-submitted voter lists. Despite these changes, states would retain full control over voter eligibility for mail-in voting, consistent with the Constitution's designation of states to oversee most election-related functions.
The Postal Service has not yet commented on the new rule. This initiative directly follows President Trump's March 31 executive order on elections, which specifically directed the USPS to initiate rulemaking on mail-in and absentee ballot services. A federal judge's decision on Thursday to not immediately block the mail-voting provisions of this order deemed the challenge premature, as agencies had not yet implemented it.
White House spokesperson Abigail Jackson affirmed the administration's stance, telling CNBC, "The entire Trump Administration will continue lawfully enacting the agenda President Trump was elected to enact – which includes the safety and security of American elections." She added that this commitment was a key reason for the President's return to the White House.
The judge's ruling, however, leaves open the door for Democrats to mount future challenges once the administration proceeds with further implementation. Democrats and various voting rights organizations have consistently argued that Trump's order infringes upon states' authority over elections and could impede the ability to vote by mail. The administration, conversely, has defended these tightening measures as crucial for election integrity.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY, sharply criticized the proposal, stating, "Mail-in voting is safe and secure – period. This new rule is just another malicious attempt by the Trump administration to suppress the votes of millions and try to throw the election results." He reiterated Democrats' commitment to fighting these measures "in the courts and in Congress to ensure that every voter can cast their ballot this November."
The proposed rule is slated for publication in the Federal Register on June 2, with public comments due 30 days following its publication.
