Postmaster General David Steiner told senators that, under a proposed USPS regulation tied to President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order, states that do not provide required absentee voter manifests would not have their ballots mailed.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Postmaster General David Steiner told senators Wednesday that the United States Postal Service would not mail absentee ballots for states that refuse to provide voter manifests required under a proposed rule connected to President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order.
Steiner made the statement during testimony before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, where lawmakers questioned him about how USPS would handle election mail under the proposed regulation.
Trump’s March 31, 2026, executive order, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” directed the postmaster general to establish new procedures for election mail. The order requires states to submit detailed manifests at least 60 days before federal elections, including voter names, addresses and unique barcode identifiers, so USPS can verify eligibility and track ballots.
The proposed standards also require states to use special “Official Election Mail” envelopes with intelligent mail barcodes. Under the rule, states that do not provide the required voter lists or follow the new security procedures would not have absentee or mail-in ballots delivered by USPS.
Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., asked Steiner directly how the Postal Service would respond if a state declined to provide its absentee voter list to the federal government.
“If a state refuses to turn their absentee voter list over to the federal government, will the Postal Service still mail their ballots under this proposed rule?” Peters asked.
“Under our proposed regulation, no,” Steiner said.
Steiner said USPS would notify states that failed to comply with the proposed requirements.
“We would tell the state that we need the manifest,” Steiner said.
The proposed USPS rule was published in early June and follows Trump’s executive order on election integrity. Supporters of the measure argue it would strengthen tracking, verification and security for election mail. Critics say the rule would give the Postal Service a new role in election administration and could interfere with ballot access in states that do not comply.
Democrats on the committee objected to the proposed regulation, calling it an “unconstitutional overreach” and a “backdoor way of trying to influence this election.”
All 49 Senate Democrats, along with two independents, have signed letters calling on Steiner to withdraw the rule.
The dispute follows earlier objections from New Jersey Democrats, who sent a letter urging USPS not to implement Trump’s executive order.
That letter was led by Rep. Nellie Pou, D-North Haledon, and signed by New Jersey’s Democratic congressional delegation, including Sens. Cory Booker and Andy Kim, along with Reps. Frank Pallone, Donald Norcross, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Josh Gottheimer, Robert Menendez, LaMonica McIver and Herbert Conaway.
The proposed USPS rule has placed the Postal Service at the center of a broader election-law fight over federal authority, state election procedures and mail-in ballot security ahead of future federal elections.