USPS Advanced Mail Voting Rules Despite 10,000-Ballot Rejection Risk
Updated
Updated · ProPublica · Sep 2
USPS Advanced Mail Voting Rules Despite 10,000-Ballot Rejection Risk
3 articles · Updated · ProPublica · Sep 2
Summary
Internal USPS discussions warned the new mail-voting system could delay or block ballots for large groups of voters, yet the rule still moved ahead for the 2026 midterms.
A whistleblower told Sen. Richard Blumenthal that one failed barcode in a 10,000-ballot bulk mailing could trigger rejection of the entire batch under an untested, error-prone system.
Election officials raised the same concern before the rule was finalized, citing counties such as Maricopa, Arizona, which can send more than 2 million ballots in one initial mailing.
The rules stem from President Donald Trump’s March order requiring states to submit voter lists for USPS verification, with a new portal and software to track and potentially block ballots before mailing.
A federal court has temporarily blocked the requirements, but the dispute is expected to reach the Supreme Court before November as critics say the system cannot be ready in time.