The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has proposed a new rule tied to President Donald Trump’s March 2026 executive order on elections, while legal challenges to the order continue moving through federal courts.

According to the proposal, state election officials would be required to provide USPS with lists of voters who have requested absentee or mail ballots before those ballots are mailed. The proposed rule would direct USPS to use those lists when processing ballot mail for federal elections.

Under the proposal, states would have to provide USPS with a list of voters who requested mail ballots at least 30 days before ballots are sent. USPS would then be directed not to deliver ballots to voters whose names do not appear on those lists. y would direct USPS not to deliver ballots to voters who are not included on those lists. States would also be permitted to submit updated voter information after the initial list is provided.

The proposal would give USPS a role in determining whether some mail ballots can be delivered. Traditionally, USPS has been responsible for delivering election mail and providing guidance to election officials on mail processing, ballot design, and delivery timelines, while state and local election officials administer elections and determine voter eligibility and ballot distribution.

The proposed rule follows President Trump’s March 2026 executive order addressing voter eligibility verification, mail ballot procedures, and election administration. Among other provisions, the order directs federal agencies to take actions related to election administration and mail voting.

Legal Challenges Continue

Just one day before USPS published the proposed rule, a federal district court judge in Washington, D.C., denied requests for preliminary injunctions blocking portions of the executive order.

The court did not rule on whether the executive order is lawful. Instead, the judge found that because the challenged policies had not yet been implemented, the plaintiffs had not demonstrated a risk of immediate harm necessary to obtain preliminary relief.

Additional legal challenges remain active. A separate case brought by 23 states and the District of Columbia is continuing in federal court, and voting rights organizations have also challenged portions of the executive order.

Por qué esto es importante

Mail voting remains a significant part of election administration across the country. According to data highlighted in a recent Campaign Legal Center briefing, nearly one-third of Americans voted by mail in the 2024 general election, accounting for more than 48 million votes.

Because the proposed USPS rule is not yet final and litigation remains ongoing, questions about implementation, legal authority, and the potential impact on mail voting procedures have not been resolved.

For now, mail voting procedures remain governed by existing state laws while the federal rulemaking process and court challenges continue.

As debates over voting access, election administration, and federal authority continue, understanding the difference between proposed changes, enacted policies, and ongoing litigation can help voters stay informed about developments that may affect future elections.

VAAC encourages absentee voters to use secure ballot drop boxes whenever possible. Returning a ballot through an official drop box allows it to be delivered directly to election officials without relying on mail delivery timelines.

Michigan voters can contact their local clerk or visit the Michigan Department of State website to find ballot drop box locations and learn more about absentee voting options. Find the “Su información de votante” and click on “Where are my ballot drop boxes?” to enter your information to locate your drop box locations.