Go on Record to Oppose Postal Service Rule on By-Mail Voting

 

Why is the Postal Service making this rule, and what is in it?

 

On March 31, 2026, President Trump issued an executive order entitled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections." The executive order attempts to make significant changes to the way by-mail voting is conducted, even though the Constitution empowers states to run elections -- not the federal government. On June 2, 2026, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) released its proposed rule, "Ballot Mail for Federal Elections," which seeks to implement the president's executive order. The proposed rule:

 

• Requires that all ballot envelopes include a unique Intelligent Mail barcode. Each barcode will be associated with an individual voter. This may require states to redesign their ballots, which is costly and could be unworkable for some jurisdictions. None of the costs incurred by the states will be covered by USPS or the federal government.
• Asks states to submit to USPS their lists of voters who will receive mail-in or absentee ballots along with each voter's assigned Intelligent Mail barcode. Most states already have systems in place to track mail ballots, but the rule allows USPS to create its own national ballot tracking system. This establishes a complex and expensive process that purports to address voter fraud and noncitizen voting, which is extremely rare. 
• Allows USPS to create "mail-in and absentee participation lists" for each state that include each voter's name, address, and assigned barcode. USPS will use state-provided data to create its own voter lists intended to "help determine adherence to federal law and facilitate law enforcement efforts." Voters must be enrolled on this list to be eligible to receive and return mail-in or absentee ballots. 
• Sets up a compliance standard for the rule. Right now, states decide whether a mailed ballot is valid, but under the rule USPS can decide it will not accept ballot mail it deems noncompliant. This means USPS could deny mail ballots to voters who have correctly requested mail-in or absentee ballots. It also means states have only a short amount of time to create and implement compliant systems before the November election. 

 

Why should you submit a comment?

 

Federal agencies use rulemaking to create policy. Part of the process in making rules is gathering feedback from the public. This feedback helps agencies make decisions and becomes part of a government record. Right now USPS is accepting public comments on their proposed rule to implement the president's executive order on by-mail voting. Comments must be received by July 2, 2026. 

 

What should you consider when submitting your comment?

 

• State why you are submitting a comment. This can be as simple as saying you are one of the millions of Americans who routinely votes by mail or you could potentially need to vote by absentee ballot in the future.
• Explain how you see yourself being affected by the rule. Be as specific as possible.
• Offer reasons you disagree with the rule. You may want to keep the following in mind:

Only states and Congress have the constitutional authority to make rules about how elections are run. This rule takes control over mail voting from the states and creates a more nationalized system where USPS becomes the gatekeeper over who can receive and return mail ballots. 

 

The rule creates new risks for voters. USPS will be collecting and managing information for voters nationwide without demonstrating that it has the capacity to maintain and protect that data. New and complex systems will need to be built quickly. Administrative or data errors could lead to eligible voters being denied a mail ballot. 

• Ask USPS not to implement the rule.