USPS Proposes Rule Requiring States to Share Mail-In Voter Lists
The U.S. Postal Service has proposed a new rule requiring states to submit lists of mail-in and absentee voters to the agency, with barcodes matching their ballots, as part of President Trump's executive order on election integrity. The proposal would create a "Mail-In and Absentee Participation List" to help law enforcement detect potential voting irregularities by comparing mailed ballots to received ballots. The rule faces legal challenges from Democratic states and remains in limbo pending court decisions on related mail-in voting restrictions.
The USPS issued a proposed rule on May 29 requiring states to submit comprehensive lists of mail-in and absentee voters along with personalized barcodes for their ballots. Under the proposal, states would provide initial voter lists to USPS, which would then return a finalized "Mail-In and Absentee Participation List" to state election officials. The rule aligns with Trump's March executive order on mail-in voting and is framed by the administration as a measure to enhance election security and facilitate law enforcement investigations into potential discrepancies between mailed and received ballots. The proposal comes one day after a federal judge denied Democrats' request to block the underlying executive order, though the plaintiffs have appealed. Multiple legal challenges to Trump's broader election integrity initiatives—including proof-of-citizenship requirements—are ongoing in federal courts.
What's missing
The article does not include statements from election security experts, voting rights organizations, or state election officials regarding the feasibility, privacy implications, or potential operational challenges of implementing such a system. The specific legal authority under which USPS claims to have the power to impose such requirements on states is not explained. The article also does not clarify what enforcement mechanisms would apply if states refuse to comply with the proposed rule.
What different sources said
- Washington ExaminerRight
USPS to stop delivering mail-in ballots in states that don’t hand over their voter rolls
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