USPS Publishes 95-Page Mail Ballot Rule Despite 2 Court Injunctions
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 22
USPS Publishes 95-Page Mail Ballot Rule Despite 2 Court Injunctions
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 22
Summary
A 95-page final rule posted Aug. 21 would let USPS block delivery of federal mail ballots from states that fail to meet new data-sharing and barcode requirements, if courts lift current injunctions before November's elections.
The rule requires states to give USPS names, ballot-linked barcodes, and unique outbound and return-envelope barcodes so the agency can match ballots sent with ballots states say they issued.
Judge Indira Talwani last week barred USPS from adopting the Trump-ordered changes, and the agency said it will not implement the rule unless that injunction is lifted.
USPS said it will not record party affiliation or inspect ballot contents, but will retain exterior-envelope data such as addresses and barcodes for compliance and law-enforcement purposes.
The move keeps alive a March Trump push for tighter mail voting rules ahead of congressional elections that will decide control of Congress, despite states and Democrats arguing USPS lacks authority and is acting too close to the vote.
How will the Supreme Court resolve the clash between state election sovereignty and new federal postal mandates ahead of the 2026 vote?
Supreme Court Showdown Over 2026 USPS Mail-In Voting Rule Threatens Chaos for Midterm Elections
Overview
After Congress failed to pass the SAVE Act, President Trump issued a sweeping executive order in March 2026 to restrict mail-in voting, requiring states to submit voter lists to the USPS and imposing new technical mandates. Judge Indira Talwani quickly blocked these changes, first in 23 states and then nationwide, just weeks before the midterms. The Trump administration appealed to the Supreme Court, while local election offices—especially in rural areas—struggled with costly, unfunded requirements. As legal battles and confusion persisted, a coalition of governors warned that the uncertainty could paralyze election officials, threatening chaos ahead of the 2026 elections.