The US Postal Service (USPS) has proposed a rule requiring states to share voter information related to mail-in and absentee voting. This proposal follows an executive order issued by Trump in March aimed at tightening regulations governing mail-in voting in federal elections.
In his second administration, Trump has prioritized election integrity through executive orders designed to require proof of citizenship for voters and combat mail-in voting fraud. The administration argues that stronger verification measures are necessary to restore confidence in elections and safeguard the voting process.
Several initiatives under this framework have faced legal challenges. Federal courts have blocked certain provisions, including proof-of-citizenship requirements, while appeals remain pending. Democratic-led states have filed lawsuits challenging the administration’s mail-in voting policies.
As litigation continues, the Postal Service has advanced a proposal directing states and the USPS to coordinate on identifying eligible mail-in and absentee voters. Under this rule, states would submit lists of voters requesting mail-in ballots along with personalized barcodes assigned to each ballot. The Postal Service would then return a finalized “Mail-In and Absentee Participation List” to each state’s chief election official, containing the names of approved voters and their corresponding ballot barcodes.
The proposal specifies that only voters included on this final list would be eligible to receive mail-in or absentee ballots. The USPS states that this system would improve transparency and provide election officials and law enforcement with additional tools for verifying election procedures.
“This provision will help determine adherence to federal law and facilitate law enforcement efforts,” the proposal states. “For example, the provided lists will evidence how many ballots have been mailed, and allow law enforcement officials to compare the total number of mailed ballots to the total number of received ballots to detect potential issues meriting further investigation.”
Election integrity supporters argue that the process would create a clearer chain of custody for mailed ballots and help identify irregularities that might otherwise go undetected.
The Postal Service issued the proposal on May 29, one day after Trump-appointed US District Judge Carl J. Nichols denied a request from Democratic plaintiffs seeking to block the administration’s mail-in voting executive order. Judge Nichols ruled that the challengers failed to sufficiently demonstrate that the order would cause “imminent and irreparable harm.” The plaintiffs have appealed this decision, leaving the Postal Service proposal subject to ongoing legal uncertainty as broader litigation proceeds.
