WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States Postal Service announced Friday that it is moving forward with a final rule setting new eligibility guidelines for mail-in ballots, directly aligning with President Donald Trump’s March executive order restricting the practice—even as federal court injunctions currently bar the measures from being enforced.
The Postal Service’s 95-page unpublished report, slated for an official release in the Federal Register on Aug. 26, outlines detailed requirements for how the agency intends to distribute mail-in ballots for November’s midterm elections. The policy closely mirrors the president’s blocked mandate, giving states a 60-day deadline before the Nov. 3 midterms to submit lists of eligible, voting citizens based on citizenship data. Under the framework, USPS would only process and deliver mail-in or absentee ballots for residents appearing on those federal- and state-approved lists.
In June, Postmaster General David Steiner signaled his commitment to the president’s directive, telling senators during testimony that the policy would ensure “the right ballots are going to the right people.”
However, the framework faces significant legal hurdles. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani issued a preliminary injunction blocking nationwide enforcement of the order, warning that altering procedures so close to an election would create unnecessary “confusion” and “chaos.”
“That it is now less than 90 days before the November 3, 2026 midterm elections underscores the critical need for an injunction to prevent Defendants from changing election rules on the eve of the election,” Talwani wrote in her ruling, adding that the executive branch lacks constitutional authority under the Elections Clause to regulate state voting procedures.
Addressing the conflicting court orders in its filing, USPS acknowledged the injunctions but noted that if the Justice Department successfully obtains emergency relief from the U.S. Supreme Court, the restrictive rule will go into effect immediately to give election officials as much time as possible to comply.
In response to the judicial pushback, White House spokesperson Lauren Bis reaffirmed the administration’s stance, telling The Hill that officials “will continue lawfully enacting the agenda President Trump was elected to enact – which includes the safety and security of American elections.”
President Trump has remained a steadfast critic of expanded mail-in voting, routinely citing unproven assertions that the practice invites widespread election fraud. In late June, the president criticized a Supreme Court decision upholding state rules that allow mail-in ballots to be counted if postmarked by Election Day, calling the ruling a “tremendous loss in the Supreme Court.”
Despite ongoing debates, mail-in voting remains a widely utilized method across the nation. According to a June U.S. Election Assistance Commission report, nearly a third of all votes cast in the 2024 general election—30.3%—were submitted by mail, maintaining levels significantly higher than pre-pandemic baselines.
The administration has also signaled a willingness to pursue further measures to tighten voting requirements. During an August interview, Trump did not rule out declaring a national emergency if Congress fails to pass the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility (SAVE America) Act, which would mandate proof of citizenship for federal voter registration and photo ID at polling places.
