USPS ISSUES MAIL-VOTING RULES WHILE COURT BLOCK REMAINS

Developing story: Court rulings, state responses, USPS guidance and election deadlines may change quickly before the midterms.

The U.S. Postal Service issued a final rule late Friday tightening mail-voting requirements ahead of the November congressional elections, even though a federal court order currently blocks the changes from taking effect. Reuters reported that USPS said it was publishing the rule so it could be ready if a court lifts the injunctions.

The 95-page rule would require states to provide USPS with lists of voters who received mailed ballots and unique barcodes tied to outbound and return ballot envelopes for federal elections. USPS said it would not inspect ballot contents, collect party affiliation or authorize postal workers to open sealed mail.

The rule follows President Donald Trump’s March executive order seeking tighter controls on mail voting. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani in Boston blocked USPS last week from adopting the changes, and the Postal Service said it will take no action unless that court order is lifted.

The timing is central to the controversy. Election officials, Democratic lawmakers and some states argue that major mail-ballot procedures should not be changed close to an election. USPS and supporters of the rule say the agency must ensure ballots are trackable and properly matched to state records.

Mail voting is already a major midterm issue. Trump has repeatedly criticized mail ballots and falsely claimed that widespread fraud caused his 2020 defeat. At the same time, many Republican and Democratic voters continue to use mail ballots, and election administrators rely on established procedures for printing, mailing, tracking and counting them.

If the rule takes effect, the operational burden could be substantial. States would have to coordinate voter lists, barcodes and envelope data with USPS under a compressed timeline. Any mismatch or compliance dispute could affect whether ballot mail is processed normally, making the rule legally and administratively significant.

What is confirmed is that USPS published the rule but will not implement it while injunctions remain in place. What remains unresolved is whether courts allow the rule to take effect before November and whether states can comply without disrupting mail-ballot delivery.

Fact-check date: August 22, 2026. Article type: News. Sources: Reuters; U.S. Postal Service; U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Developing note: Court rulings, state responses, USPS guidance and election deadlines may change quickly before the midterms.