The US Postal Service (USPS) announced on Thursday, August 27th, 2026, that new requirements for mail-in voting are now in effect. These rules stem from an executive order issued earlier this year by former President Donald Trump, aiming to restrict mail-in voting ahead of the November midterm elections.

The new USPS policy requires state election officials to submit voter rolls for inspection, allowing the postal service to withhold ballots from registered voters deemed ineligible based on comparisons with Department of Homeland Security and other federal records. The USPS stated the rules would be implemented immediately for ballots in the upcoming elections.

This move follows a US Supreme Court ruling on Monday, August 24th, which lifted a lower court injunction blocking the policy’s implementation, at least until the USPS began enforcing the rule. Subsequently, US District Judge Indira Talwani lifted her nationwide block on the postal service changes, citing the Supreme Court’s decision.

States opposing the policy argue that it represents a broader effort by the administration to "rewrite federal election law and usurp the authority of the states and Congress," emphasizing that election control constitutionally belongs to states and Congress, not the executive branch.

The new USPS mail ballot rules are expected to prompt further legal challenges as the November midterms approach.

Sources