Absentee/Mail-in Ballots could change. USPS looking for input. Give yours before Thursday, July 2 at 5PM ET.
Public comments can be mailed or delivered to:
75 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, Washington, DC 20260-5015. Or emailed, with a subject line "Ballot Mail" to PCFederalRegister@usps.gov. Faxed comments will not be accepted.
Below is a summary of this new action provided by the National League of Women Voters (LWVUS).
The United States Postal Service (“USPS”) issued a new rule on 06/02/2026 that would establish elements of national standards for absentee and mail-in ballots in federal elections.
Concerning provisions include:
States would have to provide USPS with lists of voters eligible to receive mail ballots for federal elections.
USPS would verify that mailed ballots are only being sent to voters on those submitted lists. This gives USPS a new role in election administration that has traditionally belonged to state and local election officials.
The proposal would establish mandatory ballot-mail design and tracking requirements, including requiring states to update their mail ballots envelopes to include voter unique ballot-tracking barcodes.
This proposal would:
Create new administrative burdens for election officials.
Delay ballot distribution.
Allow USPS to refuse delivery of ballots, which would disenfranchise eligible voters.
These new proposed rules will create unnecessary barriers that prevent eligible voters from receiving and returning their mail-in and absentee ballots in time to be counted.
League of Women Voters of Catawba Valley (LWVCV) is a nonpartisan grassroots organization dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy. The League works to inform and engage the community and it encourages citizens to participate in government.