USPS Postmaster General Announces Rule to Withhold Mail‑In Ballots from States That Refuse Voter Lists

Postmaster General David Steiner testified before the Senate Homeland Security Committee that the United States Postal Service will not deliver mail‑in ballots in any state that fails to provide a voter‑registration list to the federal government. The proposed regulation implements President Donald Trump's March executive order directing the Department of Homeland Security to create a “state citizenship list” and to require states to submit it at least 60 days before a federal election. Steiner said, “Under our proposed regulation, no,” when Senator Gary Peters asked whether the USPS would still mail ballots if a state refused. Senators Elissa Slotkin and others condemned the rule as illegal and an attempt to disenfranchise voters, urging its withdrawal. The rule would affect the eight states and the District of Columbia that conduct universal vote‑by‑mail elections, including California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont and Washington. Election officials in Arizona and Oregon, and attorney Marc Elias, announced plans to sue. Steiner added that the Postal Service would comply with any court orders, and the rule is currently under a 30‑day public‑comment period with a final version due by the end of July.