US Postal Service Introduces Final Rules on Mail-In Voting Even as Court Blocks Their Implementation

US Postal Service Introduces Final Rules on Mail-In Voting Even as Court Blocks Their Implementation

WASHINGTON, Aug 21, 2026 (VoM News): The United States Postal Service has released a final rule mandating new requirements for states that want to conduct mail-in balloting, despite being unable to enact the rules because of a current court injunction, according to Reuters.

The agency revealed a 95-page rule that would come into force immediately if a judge lifts its temporary injunction. Under the new rules USPS would be prohibited from delivering election mail to states if they refuse to meet certain stipulations.

Any state considering offering mail-in ballots would have to, at a minimum, send USPS a listing of voters to whom they have given ballots as well as names that are coded and correspond with barcodes on any balloting material sent to postal facilities for processing in any federal election.

Additional unique codes would be required on mailing labels for outbound ballots to recipients, as well as return ballot pieces, if the state wishes to be part of the proposed program.

USPS maintains that election postal workers will still be prohibited from examining the ballot itself or gathering any data on whether individuals are registered with either major political party.

Barcode information on the ballot envelopes and voter return pieces, as well as addreses on the outside, would continue to be allowed to be retained by USPS.

This month in Boston, United States District Judge Indira Talwani issued a block on these changes when opponents sued to stop implementing changes pushed by President Donald Trump earlier this summer.

Democrats and multiple state governments have contested that USPS and the Postal Board of Governors have no right to establish this program because they believe altering the guidelines so close to an Election would interfere with the processes being laid out in states across the nation to ensure timely balloting reaches voters well before they cast their vote in anElection.

According to Reuters, thePostal Service explained the changes, by indicating this framework will enable it to know how the delivery service is able to comply with the law, in addition to providing any additional assistance it could offer law enforcement officers involved in Elections-related activities.

The formal publication of the rule in The Federal Register is set for Aug. 26, however USPS stated they have not begun any actual implementation plan since.