Federal Election Mail Update: New Proposed Rules for Mail-In and Absentee Ballots

Following the White House Executive Order 14399 (“Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections”) issued on March 31, 2026, the United States Postal Service has put forward a new proposed rule AS REQUIRED by the EO, aimed at enhancing the tracking, visibility, and security of federal election ballot mail.

Whether you agree with this directive or not, the Postal Service was directed to comply with the order. The outcome likely will be determined in a court of law. 

The rule, if it becomes final, will update the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) to include:

• Barcode Tracking: Outbound and return ballot envelopes would be required to feature unique, serialized Intelligent Mail barcodes (IMb) alongside the official Election Mail logo to maximize tracking visibility.
• State-Specific Participation Lists: States would securely submit voter names, addresses, and associated ballot barcodes into a new Federal Ballot Mail Portal.
• State Responsibility: Individual states will maintain full, exclusive control over voter eligibility and voter rolls; the USPS will only verify that the physical mailpieces match the information provided by the states. 
  • USPS will also then compile the names of all enrolled individuals in such a state, along with the barcodes associated with such individuals’ mail-in or absentee ballots and provide them to the state officials.
• The rule proposes that if the mailpiece does not comply with these requirements that USPS will return them to the authorized ballot mailer. 

The proposed rule will be published in the federal register on June 2nd. You can preview it now on the public inspection page: https://www.federalregister.gov/public-inspection/2026-10968/ballot-mail-for-federal-elections

Comments will be accepted for thirty (30) after publication. You can email them directly to: PCFederalRegister@usps.gov