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. States would have to provide those lists at least 30 days before ballots are sent, and USPS would be directed not to deliver ballots to voters whose names do not appear on them. States would also be permitted to submit updated voter information after the initial list is provided.
If implemented, 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 proposal stems from 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, including lawsuits brought by states and voting rights organizations. Plaintiffs argue that the executive order unlawfully interferes with state authority over election administration and that the President does not have the constitutional authority to unilaterally change mail voting procedures established under state law. Courts have not yet ruled on those arguments.
Take Action: Submit Public Comments by July 2
The proposed USPS rule is currently open for public comment, giving organizations and individuals an opportunity to weigh in before any changes are finalized.
If access to absentee voting matters to you, consider submitting a comment explaining why voting by mail is important in your life and community. Comments can be as simple as describing why you value having the option to vote absentee and why you believe eligible voters should continue to have access to secure and effective mail voting.
Comments must be submitted by 5:00 PM ET on Thursday, July 2 by email to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov with the subject line “Ballot Mail.” Emailed comments must include the name and address of the commenter.
Not sure what to say? These linked resources include background information, talking points, and simple sample comments that individuals can personalize and submit.
Why This Is Important
Mail voting remains a widely used part of election administration across the country. Research has consistently found that voting by mail is a secure and effective way for eligible voters to cast their ballots. 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.
At this time, the proposed rule does not change how voters cast absentee ballots in Michigan or elsewhere. The proposal is not yet final, and voters can continue using existing absentee voting procedures under current state law, including voting by mail.
Because the proposal remains under review and litigation is ongoing, questions about implementation and the scope of federal authority have not yet been resolved.
VAAC still 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 and avoids 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 “Your voter information” and click on “Where are my ballot drop boxes?” to enter your information to locate your drop box locations.
The post USPS Mail Voting Proposal: What Michigan Voters Should Know appeared first on Voting Access For All.