USPS Moves to Finalize Mail-In Ballot Regulations
The U.S. Postal Service has finalized new regulations that would give the federal government potentially vast powers to control mail-in ballots for voters. The changes are part of an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in March, which directed USPS to develop lists of residents “eligible” for mail-in voting — standards that would be defined by the federal government.
Constitutional Concerns
The U.S. Constitution vests states and Congress with the power to regulate elections, and the USPS rules have already been struck down by multiple lower courts. However, as the White House appeals to the Supreme Court to reverse those decisions, it is still moving ahead in finalizing the regulations.
USPS says it will not move to implement the regulations until after the Supreme Court rules, but it must begin moving forward now to ensure the changes are in place by the mid-term elections. “To ensure the faithful execution of federal law in connection with federal elections, this rule has an immediate effective date,” USPS wrote. “Delaying the effective date would jeopardize implementation of this rule in time for the 2026 general election, which will be held on November 3, 2026.”
Public Comments
According to the notice, USPS has received an astonishing 200,000 comments from the public in response to the proposed rule. While it doesn’t provide a breakdown of how many comments were in support or opposition, the vast majority of supportive comments appear to argue that the rules would help with the perception among voters that fraud is a “significant problem.”
Courts, post-election audits, and independent experts have repeatedly debunked arguments that voter fraud is rampant. “Whether or not voter fraud is common or uncommon, the Postal Service has the legal authority to take the measures in this rule to facilitate enforcement of federal law, reduce the risk of fraud, and help protect the integrity of federal elections,” the notice stated.
Court Challenges
Two courts have already blocked the White House’s USPS rules, finding them unconstitutional. Others have expressed concerns that the Postal Service “would refuse to accept certain ballots for federal elections that states tender without satisfying the data-entry obligations that the rule would impose.”
Last week, the U.S. District Court of Massachusetts issued a second, separate injunction against the USPS rules. It’s not clear whether the Supreme Court will address both injunctions in the same ruling or separately ahead of election day in November.
Reaction from Voting Groups
Some voting groups quickly moved to condemn the Friday night posting, saying it will confuse voters about a state-led voting process that is, as of today, still the law of the land. “For the 2026 election, voters can continue to rely on the voting rules established by their state unless and until a court orders otherwise,” said Michael McNulty, senior policy director at the nonprofit Issue One.
“Yet, because the Trump administration continues its attempts to undermine trust in an effort to centralize control of elections, we all must remain vigilant and continue to build trust in our election system.”
Source: CyberScoop