Postal Service Issues Proposal to Block Mail Ballots in States That Don’t Turn Over Data

Key Points:

• The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a rule allowing it to refuse mail ballot delivery in states that do not provide voter rolls to the federal government, potentially giving the agency broad authority to intervene in mail voting.
• The rule would require states to compile lists of mail voters for Postal Service employees to screen ballots for eligibility, with non-compliant states facing possible refusal of mail ballot delivery.
• Democrats and voting rights groups argue the rule represents an unconstitutional federal intrusion into state-run elections and could disrupt voting, especially affecting mail voters who are predominantly Democrats.
• Legal challenges highlight that the rule would impose costly and complex requirements on states to create new voter lists and alter mail ballot systems less than 150 days before the 2026 general election.
• Critics warn the vague nature of the rule and its potential to disrupt election administration could undermine the integrity and accessibility of mail voting nationwide.