Postmaster General David Steiner informed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Wednesday that the United States Postal Service (USPS) intends to withhold election-mail delivery for mail-in ballots from states that do not adhere to a proposed federal voter-data requirement. This new rule is currently under consideration and is directly linked to President Donald Trump’s executive order aimed at strengthening election security standards.
"Under our proposed regulation, no." — Postmaster General David Steiner, Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing
During the hearing, Senator Gary Peters (D-Michigan) directly questioned Steiner on whether mail-in ballots would still be delivered if a state refused to submit absentee voter information as requested under the proposal. Steiner's response was unequivocal: "Under our proposed regulation, no." He further clarified that states would be formally notified that providing voter manifest data would be a prerequisite for participating in the USPS election-mail system.
Steiner's testimony provided the most comprehensive public explanation to date regarding the potential ramifications for states that opt not to comply with the federal requirements. The discussion arises as the USPS evaluates a rule connected to President Trump’s March 31 executive order, titled "Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections." The executive order is designed to enhance election integrity for mail voting and ballot handling processes nationwide.
Under the proposed framework, states would be mandated to furnish voter lists that identify individuals expected to cast their ballots by mail in upcoming federal elections. The primary objectives of this system are to bolster ballot verification, improve tracking procedures, and establish updated standards for the processing of official election mail across all states. A final rule is anticipated to be issued later this summer, following a mandatory public comment period.
The implementation of such a policy could have substantial implications, particularly for states that have a high reliance on mail-in voting. Currently, eight states—California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington—along with Washington, D.C., automatically dispatch ballots to all registered voters. These jurisdictions would likely be compelled to submit extensive voter data to remain compliant with the proposed federal system, as reported by Jefferson Public Radio.
Democratic senators voiced sharp criticism of the proposal during the committee hearing, cautioning that it could impose new administrative burdens on state election officials and potentially infringe upon states' constitutional authority over election administration. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-Michigan) characterized the proposed rule as "another backdoor way of trying to influence this election," and urged USPS leadership to steer clear of politically charged election disputes.
In response to these accusations, Postmaster General Steiner firmly rejected claims that the Postal Service was acting on political motives. "I’m not a political person and the Postal Service is not a political organization," he asserted to the senators. He also affirmed that the agency would comply with any court ruling that might ultimately block or restrict the regulation.
The proposal has already prompted legal challenges from several Democratic-led states and various voting rights organizations. These groups contend that the federal government lacks the constitutional authority to impose such stringent requirements on state-run election systems. Conversely, proponents of President Trump’s executive order argue that these changes are vital for improving voter verification, mitigating risks of fraud, and strengthening public confidence in the integrity of mail-in voting systems, according to The New York Times.
The regulation is currently undergoing a 30-day public comment period, as directed by the executive order, with the USPS expected to finalize the rule later this summer. Federal courts are actively reviewing multiple legal challenges brought forward by states and voting rights advocacy groups, setting the stage for potential judicial intervention before the rule's finalization.
