USPS Proposal on Mail Ballot Delivery Under Fire

Lawmakers are sharply criticizing Postmaster General David Steiner over a newly proposed rule. The rule means the United States Postal Service (USPS) would not deliver mail ballots unless states provide their voter lists to the Trump administration. During his testimony before a Senate committee, Steiner was questioned if USPS would distribute ballots to states that refuse to share absentee voter lists. “No,” he stated, emphasizing the need for a voter list manifest from states.

Concerns Over Voter Information

Democratic Senator Gary Peters of Michigan voiced concerns, stating the proposal would “coerce” states into giving up sensitive voter information. According to Peters, “This is basically a back-door way for the federal government to get voting information that states control under the U.S. Constitution.” He added that restricting mail voting is unacceptable.

Senator Margaret Hassan from New Hampshire also criticized the proposal, labeling it “blatantly illegal.” She pointed out potential impacts on voter participation and demanded the proposal’s immediate withdrawal.

Trump’s Executive Order on Mail Voting

The USPS rule follows President Donald Trump’s executive order dated March 31, titled “Ensuring Citizen Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections.” This order aims to reshape election administration and mail voting rules before the 2026 midterms. It instructs federal agencies to compile lists of eligible mail voters, requires USPS to send ballots only to voters on approved lists, and establishes ballot-tracking measures like unique barcodes. Non-compliance could lead to loss of federal funding for states.

Opponents argue the order oversteps presidential authority because the Constitution delegates primary election responsibility to states and national standards to Congress. Lawsuits challenging the order are currently progressing in federal courts.

Legal Oppositions and Lawsuits

Democratic states and voting-rights groups have initiated several lawsuits to contest the order’s legality. Recently, a federal judge in Massachusetts permitted significant challenges to proceed, indicating that courts may soon evaluate whether the administration overreached by involving federal agencies and USPS in election administration.

A lawsuit was filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts by groups including the League of Women Voters and OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates. These plaintiffs argue the order is “plainly unconstitutional” and disrupts the efforts of nonpartisan voting rights groups preparing for future elections. They insist that implementing the order risks disenfranchising many American citizens reliant on mail-in voting.

Marcia Johnson of the League of Women Voters emphasized mail voting’s importance for participation in democracy. She stated, “No president has the authority to unilaterally rewrite election rules or dictate how states administer their elections.”

President Trump’s Criticism of Mail Voting

President Trump has repeatedly criticized mail voting, claiming it increases the likelihood of election fraud, despite bipartisan election officials dismissing widespread fraud concerns. Since returning to office in January 2025, Trump has targeted mail ballot restrictions as a central focus of his election-integrity agenda. He declared mail-in voting corrupt during a Michigan rally and reiterated his stance during interviews.

He continued his critique on Truth Social, voicing opposition to Utah adopting an all-mail ballot format and indicating a political bias in such systems.

Awaiting Legal Verdicts

Legal challenges will likely determine whether the administration can enforce its mail-voting measures before upcoming federal elections. Voting-rights groups, election officials, and states are pursuing court orders to prevent enforcement, while administration officials argue the measures are key to ensuring election security.