Postmaster General Reaffirms Plan To Withhold Mailing Ballots Under Proposed Voter-List Rule
Postmaster General David Steiner told the Senate Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, that under a proposed USPS regulation the service would not mail absentee or mail ballots for states that refuse to comply.[1]
When Sen. Gary Peters asked whether USPS would still mail ballots if a state declined to provide its absentee voter list, Steiner answered, "Under our proposed regulation? No," and said USPS would demand the "manifest." MS NOW
President Trump issued an executive order on March 31, 2026, directing the Postmaster General to begin rulemaking that would require states to submit lists of voters receiving mail-in ballots.[2] USPS issued a proposed rule in June that would require states to provide lists of voters who requested mail-in or absentee ballots so the Postal Service can check eligibility and assist law enforcement.[1]
Steiner's Senate testimony prompted new legal and political pushback, with some election officials saying the rule would effectively threaten to withhold ballots unless states share detailed voter data.[2] Later reporting, notably from the New York Times and PBS, raised questions about how aggressively USPS would enforce the requirement and how it would work where state law limits sharing certain voter fields.[2]
The proposed regulation flows from Trump's March 31 executive order and is already the subject of legal challenges by states and voting-rights groups.[3]
The mainstream summary does not mention the specifics of the USPS proposed rule, which requires states to submit detailed voter information—including names, addresses, and barcodes—at least 30 days before elections. This requirement, outlined in the Federal Register, highlights the administrative burden placed on states and raises questions about compliance and enforcement, particularly in jurisdictions with laws restricting voter data sharing. The summary also lacks emphasis on how President Trump's March 31 executive order directly links to this proposed regulation, mandating that the USPS only transmit ballots for voters on a state-maintained list, a point that underscores the political motivations behind the rule.
Moreover, while the mainstream account notes the pushback from election officials, it does not capture the broader political discourse surrounding the rule. Social media reactions reveal a split perspective, with some framing the requirement as a necessary step for election integrity, while others view it as a manipulative tactic to suppress voter participation. This divergence in public opinion reflects deeper issues of trust and polarization in U.S. elections, which the summary overlooks, particularly the findings from the MIT Election Data + Science Lab that highlight how partisan narratives shape perceptions of election integrity and fairness.[4][5]
Show source details & analysis (4 sources)
📊 Relevant Data
The USPS proposed rule published June 2, 2026, requires states to submit via a new Federal Ballot Mail Portal the names, addresses, and barcodes for each voter sent a mail-in or absentee ballot in federal elections, at least 30 days before the election to the extent practicable.
Ballot Mail for Federal Elections — Federal Register
President Trump's March 31, 2026 executive order directs the Postmaster General to initiate rulemaking so that USPS shall not transmit mail-in or absentee ballots unless individuals are enrolled on a State-specific Mail-In and Absentee Participation List maintained by USPS.
Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections — White House
📌 Key Facts
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate Homeland Security Committee that under the proposed USPS regulation the Postal Service would not mail absentee or mail ballots for states that refuse to provide their absentee voter lists (Postmaster General David Steiner).
- In an exchange with Sen. Gary Peters on June 24, Steiner answered “Under our proposed regulation? No,” when asked whether USPS would still mail ballots if a state declined to provide its absentee voter list, adding that USPS would tell the state it needs “the manifest” (Sen. Gary Peters).
- The draft USPS rule, linked in reporting on June 24, would require states to provide lists of people who requested mail‑in or absentee ballots so USPS can determine adherence to federal law and support law‑enforcement efforts (draft USPS rule).
- Reporting on June 24 ties the proposed USPS regulation directly to President Trump’s March 31, 2026 executive order, “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” which is already facing legal challenges from states and voting‑rights groups (President Trump’s March 31, 2026 executive order).
- Steiner’s June 24 testimony has prompted new legal and political pushback, with some election officials saying USPS is effectively threatening to withhold ballots unless states share detailed voter data (election officials).
- The New York Times reported additional context on June 24 about internal USPS and administration deliberations over how aggressively to enforce the proposed requirement and how it would operate in states that partially comply or are barred by state law from sharing certain voter‑data fields (internal USPS and administration deliberations).
📰 Source Timeline (4)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee that under the Postal Service's proposed regulation, USPS would not deliver mail or absentee ballots for states that refuse to provide absentee voter lists.
- In an exchange at the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Sen. Gary Peters asked whether USPS would still mail ballots if a state declined to provide its absentee voter list, and Steiner answered, "Under our proposed regulation? No," adding USPS would tell the state it needs "the manifest."
- The PBS article links directly to the draft USPS rule, which states that states would be required to provide lists of people who requested mail-in or absentee ballots so USPS can determine adherence to federal law and support law-enforcement efforts.
- The report explicitly ties the proposed USPS regulation to President Donald Trump's March 2026 executive order aimed at tightening mail-voting rules and creating federal "eligible voter" lists.
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the New York Times reported additional detail on Postmaster General David Steiner’s commitment to require state voter "manifests" before USPS will mail absentee and mail ballots under the Trump executive order and proposed rule.
- The article describes new legal and political pushback emerging since Steiner’s June 24 Senate testimony, including concerns from some election officials that USPS is effectively threatening to hold ballots unless states share detailed voter data.
- The piece adds context on internal USPS and administration deliberations over how aggressively to enforce the proposed requirement and how it would operate in states that partially comply or are barred by state law from sharing certain fields.
- On Wednesday, June 24, 2026, during a Senate Homeland Security Committee hearing, Postmaster General David Steiner testified that under the proposed USPS regulation, the Postal Service would not mail ballots for states that refuse to turn over their absentee voter lists.
- In an exchange with Sen. Gary Peters, Steiner answered 'No' when asked whether USPS would still mail ballots if a state declined to provide its absentee voter list, confirming that USPS would tell the state it needs the 'manifest' before mailing ballots.
- The article reiterates that the underlying authority for the proposed USPS rule is President Trump's March 31, 2026 executive order on 'Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,' which is already facing legal challenges from states and voting-rights groups.