[REVISION HISTORY]
US mail-in voting regulatory and legal disputes
Updated 1 time since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.
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2026-09-10 01:35 UTC → 2026-09-10 21:02 UTC ·
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The United States Postal Service (USPS) finalized a 95-page rule following a March 31 executive order by President Donald Trump. The regulation requires states to provide voter names and addresses to a federal portal and use uniquely serialized Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) on both outbound and return ballot envelopes. The USPS stated these measures aim to improve transparency and efficiency, though the agency noted it could refuse to deliver ballots to non-compliant states. These requirements faced legal opposition, with a federal judge in Massachusetts ruling parts of the executive order unconstitutional, citing that election administration is a power reserved for states and Congress. As legal challenges continue, election A federal judge later issued a preliminary injunction preventing the USPS from enacting new rules that would require states to provide specific voter lists and use agency-approved envelopes. A recent audit from the USPS Office of Inspector General found that some facilities failed to properly handle ballots during primary elections due to inadequate staff training and tracking deficiencies. While the audit noted that 99% of ballots reached officials are managing on time, it highlighted risks regarding incorrect postmarks and delays. Election officials continue to manage local uncertainty. In Humboldt King County, California, officials have emphasized that voters can use official drop boxes or in-person methods if mail disruptions occur. In Humboldt County, the Registrar of Voters has urged residents to vote early or use drop boxes to avoid mitigate potential delivery delays. In Montana, administrators have proceeded with printing absentee ballot envelopes without the federal barcodes, despite the state intervening in support of the federal plan. Officials in Montana expressed concerns that the legal disputes and potential for non-compliant envelopes could lead specific barcodes to public avoid confusion or ballot shortages. stemming from proposed federal mail-screening plans.
Versions
- 2026-09-10 21:02 UTC US mail-in voting regulatory and legal disputes
- 2026-09-10 01:35 UTC US mail-in voting regulatory and legal disputes
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