USPS finalizes mail-in ballot rule amid court injunction

The U.S. Postal Service has finalized a new rule requiring states to submit voter information and use tracking barcodes for mail-in ballots, a move that could reshape election procedures but remains blocked by a federal court injunction. The regulation, published on August 26, 2026, stems from a March 31 executive order by President Donald Trump aimed at enhancing election integrity. However, its implementation depends on the Supreme Court lifting a preliminary injunction issued by a federal judge in Massachusetts.

Under the rule, states that use the Postal Service to deliver mail-in ballots must enroll voters in a new federal "Mail-In and Absentee Participation List." Each state would be required to submit the name and address of every voter who will receive a ballot. Additionally, both the outbound and return ballot envelopes must carry a unique tracking barcode, allowing the Postal Service to match ballots sent against those returned. The agency stated it would not deliver ballots to any state not in compliance with these requirements.

The Postal Service emphasized that the rule does not involve verifying voter eligibility, maintaining voter rolls, or counting ballots. It...