U.S. Postal Service proposes mail ballot data rules for federal elections

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USPS mail ballot data rules

Highlights

USPS proposed making election mail practices mandatory for federal elections, with a rule published June 2 and public comments due 30 days later.
The rule requires states to submit voter lists and unique ballot barcodes, excludes primaries and military ballots, and allows USPS to reject noncompliant mailings.
A federal judge refused to block Trump's March 31 order, but legal challenges may intensify as implementation progresses.

Federal ballot mail standards and timeline

As first reported by CNBC, the proposed rule marks a shift by the U.S. Postal Service from recommending election mail practices to making them mandatory for federal elections. The measure follows President Donald Trump's March 31 executive order on elections and is scheduled for publication in the Federal Register on June 2, with public comments due 30 days later.

The proposal requires states to provide the Postal Service with the names and addresses of voters receiving mail-in or absentee ballots, along with unique barcodes linked to each voter's outbound and return ballot envelopes. USPS says the system would help determine how many ballots are mailed and allow officials to compare that number with returned ballots to identify potential issues for further investigation.

The rule covers general, special and runoff federal elections, but excludes primaries as well as ballots sent to military and overseas voters. It also requires official Election Mail logos, tracking barcodes and design reviews, and would allow USPS to return outbound federal ballot mailings that do not meet the new standards or are not tied to state-submitted voter lists.

State authority concerns and election impact

USPS plans to use the submitted information to create state-specific Mail-In and Absentee Participation Lists through a new Federal Ballot Mail Portal. While states would continue to decide who is eligible to vote by mail, the proposal expands the federal government's operational role in election mail processing.

A federal judge declines on Thursday to immediately block the mail-voting provisions of Trump's order, finding the legal challenge premature because agencies have not yet fully carried them out. The ruling leaves open the possibility of renewed court challenges as the administration takes further implementation steps.

Democrats and voting rights groups argue that the order intrudes on states' constitutional authority over elections and could make voting by mail harder. The administration has defended tighter procedures as election-integrity measures, while the White House does not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump’s proposed terms for a deal with Iran focused on security and trade conditions, including a permanent ban on an Iranian nuclear weapon and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for unrestricted shipping. Our publication previously noted that the emphasis on restoring maritime traffic put oil markets, shipping firms and insurers in focus, while investors remained cautious amid uncertainty over whether any agreement would be finalized and implemented.

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