– By Marguerite Adelman
The United States Postal Service (USPS) rule on mail voting issued on May 30th can be found at https://public-inspection.federalregister.gov/2026-10968.pdf.
The new rule requires states to submit voter names, addresses, and unique ballot barcodes for federal elections to USPS, shifting its role from neutral mail carrier to federal gatekeeper in the mail-in voting process.
Email your individual comments to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov with the subject line, “Ballot Mail” by 5pm ET on Thursday, July 2. Comments must contain your name and address.
Here are some suggestions for personal comments:
- UNCONSTITUTIONAL. The rule violates the Constitution and Federal law by compelling USPS to unlawfully usurp the role of states in administering elections. The rule also violates USPS’s own mandates to receive, transmit, and deliver the mail to everyone in the United States, unless a law passed by Congress says otherwise. In essence, USPS takes on the role of nationwide election administrator, a role it is not equipped to handle. Furthermore, the rule imposes significant burdens on state and local election administrators who are already overworked, overburdened, understaffed, and underfunded. If implemented, this rule will inevitably disenfranchise voters due to a multitude of administrator errors.
- CUSTOMIZABLE. I rely on voting by mail because [insert reason that applies to you—work schedule, age, disability, caregiving responsibilities, military service, transportation limitations, concern about delays or administrative errors, etc.] This proposal worries me because it could make it harder for people like me to vote. Please do not adopt these rules.
- BUREAUCRACY. This rule creates more unnecessary layers of bureaucracy and chaos. Government databases have a dismal track record for accuracy and communicating with each other. The rushed, untested, and unevaluated implementation of this rule will be a mess. People will fall through the cracks and voters will not get their ballots. Careful consideration should be given to the potential harm posed by these changes.
- GENERAL OPPOSITION. I oppose the changes USPS is considering to how we vote by mail. Voting is a fundamental right and freedom for all eligible voters. Many of us choose to vote by mail, either because it is the most convenient or accessible option or, for some Americans, it is the only option. In 2024, nearly one-third of Americans – tens of millions of citizens – voted by mail. These proposed changes would make it harder or impossible for many of us. The USPS must abandon these changes under consideration and instead focus on its core mission of providing reliable, affordable, universal mail service – especially for all voting and election-related mail.
