State election officials would be required to provide the Postal Service with a full list of every citizen who requests an absentee or mail-in ballot at least 30 days before distribution, with allowance for updates up to the last legal posting day; ballots would be refused for eligible voters not on these federal lists, effectively centralizing verification.

The policy is framed as implementing an executive order obtained in March, and critics say it bypasses Congress, raising constitutional concerns about federal overreach into state-managed election administration.

Supporters describe the rule as a security and integrity measure for mail ballots, while opponents label it a disenfranchising gatekeeping move aimed at tightening access.

Legal challenges are ongoing, but a federal judge recently declined to issue an injunction blocking the policy, noting that formal steps to enact directives had not yet been taken, allowing the USPS to move forward despite lawsuits.

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Experts warn that the 30-day initial list window and dependence on federal verification databases could disenfranchise voters due to local clerks’ logistical challenges, fueling arguments that the policy restricts access and reduces local control.

The USPS released a draft rule to overhaul mail-in voting for the 2026 midterms, proposing that mail ballots be restricted to voters registered directly with the federal government and linked to federally maintained verification databases.