The United States Postal Service (“USPS”) issued a new rule on 06/02/2026 that would establish elements of national standards for absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections. The new proposed rules will create unnecessary barriers that prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots in time to be counted.   

• States would have to provide USPS with lists of voters eligible to receive mail ballots for federal elections. 
• USPS would verify that mailed ballots are only being sent to voters on those submitted lists. This gives USPS a new role in election administration that has traditionally belonged to state and local election officials.
• The proposal would establish mandatory ballot-mail design and tracking requirements, including requiring states to update their mail ballots envelopes to include voter unique ballot-tracking barcodes.  

• Create new administrative burdens for election officials.
• Delay ballot distribution.
• Allow USPS to refuse delivery of ballots, which would disenfranchise eligible voters. 

This comment period is open until July 2, 2026, at 5PM Eastern. Use the form here to file your comment.