US Postal Service Prepares Mail-in Ballot Restrictions Despite Ongoing Court Blocks

President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the US Postal Service to implement rules for mail-in ballots. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has published a final draft of its proposed rules to restrict the use of mail-in ballots under President Donald Trump. The rules have so far been blocked by the US court system, but the USPS shared the 95-page update so that the guidelines can go into effect immediately if the existing court injunction is reversed.

Under the proposed regulations, the Postal Service will not distribute mail-in ballots in states that fail to comply with federal demands for voter records. States would be required to identify any voters who have requested mail-in ballots and redesign ballot envelopes to feature barcodes for tracking and identification purposes. The USPS argued in the document that these changes are necessary to ensure compliance with federal law and improve operational efficiency.

Critics, however, have accused the Trump administration of attempting to exert federal oversight on election administration, a responsibility reserved for the states under the US Constitution. Opponents warn that the Postal Service could use the rules to gather voter information and reject ballots in non-compliant states. Since returning to office for a second term in 2025, President Donald Trump has pursued additional voting restrictions, reiterating unsubstantiated claims of widespread election fraud from past contests.

Leaders of 23 states, the District of Columbia, and various voting rights organisations quickly challenged the plans. In June and August, US District Judge Indira Talwani issued preliminary injunctions blocking the rules from taking effect, citing potential voter confusion and unconstitutional federal intervention in election regulation.

Despite the legal roadblocks, Postmaster General David Steiner has defended the administration's plan, arguing it ensures ballot accountability. Following the online release of the voting rules, critics and Democratic lawmakers slammed the move, with voting rights advocate Marc Elias condemning the Postal Service for yielding to the administration's demands ahead of the November midterm elections.