The United States Postal Service just issued a 95-page rule to track every mail-in ballot. This new plan requires states to send lists of voters to the agency. Each ballot envelope must carry a uniquely serialized Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb). The goal is to match the ballots a state sends with what actually arrives.
David Steiner, the Postmaster General, framed the decision as a matter of efficiently and securely transporting ballots.. The rule stems from a March executive order by President Trump. Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections was the central focus of that order.. The agency plans to publish the final text on Wednesday.
A federal judge has already stopped this plan from going into effect. Last week, U.S. District Court Judge Indira Talwani granted a preliminary injunction. She blocked the rule as it was originally outlined in June. The rule cannot start before the 2026 election unless the Supreme Court steps in.
The USPS announced it will not enact actions to put the rule into effect before the 2026 election.. This pause happens while the courts sort out the legal fight. The New York Times reported that the agency will wait for the Supreme Court to side with the Trump administration. Without that win, the strict tracking rules stay on hold.
The rule demands that states prove who is receiving a mail-in ballot. Any state using the Postal Service must ensure voters are on a specific list. The USPS will return a final list to each state’s chief election official. This process helps officials count how many ballots were mailed versus received.
According to the rule text, this provision aids in determining adherence to federal law and supports law enforcement efforts.. Law enforcement can then look for issues that need more investigation. Some states might struggle with this new requirement. The rule was designed to fix problems with ballot chains of custody.
Legal battles will decide if this system works for the midterms. The Department of Justice argues that the lawsuit is premature. They claim plaintiffs cannot show harm until the law actually takes effect. The rule will only work if a federal court lifts the current injunction.
States must notify the USPS 60 days before the November 3 election if they plan to use these lists.