As you may know, the United States Postal Service (USPS) issued a proposed rule earlier this month that would erect barriers to mail voting. The League is encouraging people to submit comments opposing the USPS’s proposal regarding the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections.
The USPS’s proposed amendments would create unnecessary barriers to voting that could prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots and could even serve to disenfranchise eligible voters who are unable to vote in person.
Under the amendments, USPS would need to verify that mailed ballots are only being sent to approved voters on a list supplied by states. This gives USPS a role in election administration that rightfully belongs to state and local election officials.
The proposal would also establish mandatory ballot-mail design and tracking requirements, including requiring states to update their mail ballots envelopes to include voter unique ballot-tracking barcodes.
Everyone agrees that election mail should be secure. But these new federal requirements will create barriers that could prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots in time to be counted.
Voting is a fundamental right for citizens that must be guaranteed. Voting by mail is part of that right and is a critical part of the election process throughout the United States.
The USPS comment period is open until July 2, 2026, at 5PM ET.