The United States Postal Service published a final rule on Friday requiring states to provide voter lists and redesigned ballot envelopes with barcodes if they want mail-in ballots delivered for the November 3 midterms, according to a 95-page document released by USPS.
The guidelines give states 60 days before the November election to notify USPS whether they intend to submit a list of eligible voters based on citizenship data. Under the rule, USPS will not distribute mail-in ballots in states that do not comply with these federal demands for voter records.
The rule implements President Trump’s March 2026 executive order directing the Postal Service to restrict mail-in ballots. States would be required to identify voters who have requested mail-in ballots and to redesign ballot envelopes to feature barcodes that the Postal Service could use to track and identify voting materials, according to Al Jazeera.
In the 95-page document, USPS argued that such changes were necessary to improve operational efficiency and support the faithful execution of federal law. Postmaster General David Steiner defended the policy in June, saying it would ensure “the right ballots are going to the right people.”
Court Blocks Implementation Ahead of Midterms
The USPS rule faces significant legal obstacles. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction on August 11, 2026, blocking the order’s enforcement nationwide, ruling that implementation would create unnecessary “confusion” and “chaos” ahead of the midterms. With fewer than 90 days until the election, Talwani found that “enfranchisement heavily outweighs the executive’s attempt to unconstitutionally insert itself into the domain of election regulation,” according to The Hill.
Leaders of 23 states plus the District of Columbia challenged the Trump administration’s plans in June. Voting rights organizations also filed a separate lawsuit with the same goal, arguing that the executive order violates constitutional limits on federal power over state-administered elections.
The administration released the final rule despite the existing court injunction, positioning it to take effect immediately if courts reverse their decisions. White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told The Hill the administration “will continue lawfully enacting the agenda President Trump was elected to enact – which includes the safety and security of American elections.”
Critics have accused the Trump administration of seeking to exert federal oversight on election administration, a task that falls to the states under the U.S. Constitution. Voting rights advocate Marc Elias wrote on social media that “USPS caved to Trump,” while Democratic lawmakers argued the Postal Service is attempting to reconfigure election rules with the midterms just months away.
The rule comes as mail-in voting has become increasingly common. Nearly a third of ballots cast in the 2024 general election were submitted by mail, according to a June U.S. Election Assistance Commission report, accounting for 30.3 percent of votes cast that year.
Sources
- Al Jazeera — USPS final rule details, state requirements for voter lists and ballot envelope barcodes, USPS justification for the rule
- The Hill — USPS announcement of new mail-in ballot guidelines, 60-day deadline, Judge Talwani’s injunction and ruling language, White House response
- Brookings Institution — Background on executive order and mail-voting context, 2024 mail-in ballot statistics
