The United States Postal Service (USPS) announced new eligibility guidelines for mail-in ballots on Friday, according to a 95-page unpublished report. The new rules, scheduled for official release on August 26, align with a March executive order from President Trump that limits mail-in voting practices. The announcement comes despite a federal court ruling that previously blocked the enforcement of the presidential mandate.
The policy requires states to notify the USPS 60 days before the November 3 midterm elections if they intend to provide a list of eligible citizens based on citizenship data. Under these guidelines, the USPS will only distribute mail-in or absentee ballots to residents in states that submit these verified lists. Postmaster General David Steiner stated to senators in June that the measure is intended to ensure "the right ballots are going to the right people."
U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a nationwide injunction against the original executive order earlier in August. In her ruling, Talwani stated that changing election rules less than 90 days before the midterms would create "confusion" and "chaos." White House spokesperson Lauren Bis told The Hill that the administration intends to continue pursuing its agenda regarding the "safety and security of American elections" within legal bounds.
A person living in a state that does not submit the required citizenship lists to the USPS would notice they do not receive their mail-in or absentee ballot as they have in previous cycles. This change would be noticed approximately 60 days before the November 3 election date. The policy sets a precedent for the federal government to condition the delivery of election materials on state-level data sharing, a move President Trump has advocated for to address what he describes as potential voter fraud.
The next steps involve the official publication of the USPS report on August 26. The implementation remains subject to ongoing legal challenges, as the current USPS guidelines mirror the executive order that remains under a federal court injunction. Additionally, President Trump has mentioned the possibility of declaring a national emergency if the Senate does not pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which would mandate photo ID and proof of citizenship for all voters.