USPS ballot-mail portal proposal: governors urge withdrawal after court order

On June 2, 2026, the U.S. Postal Service published in the Federal Register a proposed rule, “Ballot Mail for Federal Elections,” that would change how federal absentee and mail-in ballot envelopes are handled and how USPS would connect to state election systems for the mailing of ballots.

The proposal would amend USPS rules to require outbound and return ballot envelopes to include:

• The official “Election Mail” logo
• Automation compatibility
• A unique IMb that includes a Delivery Point ZIP Code embedded in the barcode and a Federal Ballot Mail service type identifier (STID)
• Postal Service review of mailpiece design and barcode placement

How the “Federal Ballot Mail Portal” would work

To use the portal, the proposal says each “Ballot Portal User” must have a registered account, and registration must be completed no later than two business days before an outbound federal ballot mailing.

States that want USPS to mail ballots through the portal would have to enroll eligible individuals on what the proposal calls the state’s “Mail-In and Absentee Participation List.” Through the portal, a Ballot Portal User would submit—for each individual—their name, address, and the unique IMb on both the outbound and return ballot envelopes, plus the originating election office state.

The rule proposes timing for updates as well: it would require submissions at least 30 days before the federal election (to the extent practicable) or by when state law allows ballots to begin being mailed, and it would allow supplemental submissions (additions and modifications) until the last day that ballots may be mailed under state law.

What USPS would (and wouldn’t) verify

Under the proposed rule, USPS would review outbound federal ballot mail before acceptance to check whether the mailings meet the envelope and barcode standards—and whether they are being sent to individuals enrolled on the state’s participation list.

Importantly, the proposal says USPS would check barcodes tied to the state list, but states would retain control over the content of who is (and isn’t) included on that list.

Why governors and election officials urged withdrawal

Separately, AP reported that a group of Democratic governors asked USPS to withdraw the portal-based proposal, arguing it was tied to an executive-order framework that a federal judge has blocked and that it could undermine trust in elections and complicate voting.

And in a July 2, 2026 letter hosted by California’s attorney general, a coalition of attorneys general urged USPS to withdraw the proposed rule. They argued a district court ruling in California v. Trump enjoined USPS from implementing or giving effect to the executive order’s elections-mail requirements and from completing related rulemaking (at least within the scope described by the court and for elections including November 3, 2026).

Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs also objected in comments posted June 26, 2026. He argued there was insufficient time and resources for election systems to shift to the proposal’s unique Intelligent Mail barcode requirements on both outbound and return envelopes, warning that the operational changes could delay voters’ ability to receive ballots.

What to watch next

USPS set the comment deadline for this proposed rule as July 2, 2026. During the comment period, the Postal Service said it plans to work with stakeholder groups to discuss implementation. The Federal Register filing also says that coinciding with publication of any final rule, USPS intends to provide further technical instructions on barcode creation and portal operations, and to take steps needed for a new Privacy Act system-of-records notice (a SORN).

For readers, the key next question is whether USPS moves forward, revises, or withdraws the proposal—and what that means for state election administrators’ ballot-envelope planning for the 2026 cycle.

Sources

• Federal Register (USPS proposed rule PDF), published June 2, 2026
• Federal Register Public Inspection (FR Doc 2026-10968), USPS proposed ballot-mail rule document
• AP News report (July 3, 2026 reporting) on governors urging USPS to withdraw
• California AG-hosted multistate letter urging prompt withdrawal (public comment record PDF)
• Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs comments on USPS proposed ballot-mail rule