Postal Service Proposes Mail-In Ballot Verification Rule

The U.S. Postal Service proposed a rule in late May that would require states to submit voter lists before delivering mail-in ballots. Postmaster General David Steiner defended the plan during a Senate hearing on Wednesday. Under the proposal, each state would provide USPS with a list of voters submitting mail-in ballots along with personalized barcodes.

The agency would then return a final participation list to state election officials.

Hearing exchange Sen.

Gary Peters said no federal law authorizes the Postal Service to create voter databases or ballot verification systems. He added that states control their own elections under the Constitution. Steiner replied that the rule is not new and that states including California, Oregon, Arizona, and Florida already use unique barcodes and envelopes for mail ballots.

He described the measure as a question of efficient and secure delivery. When asked whether USPS would deliver ballots if a state refused to provide its voter list, Steiner answered no. Peters said the requirement would coerce states to comply with a presidential executive order.

Additional questions Sen.

Josh Hawley raised concerns about undelivered mail found in his state. Steiner said he was outraged by the reports and had not previously seen the images. Hawley asked whether Steiner would refuse bonuses while mail remains undelivered. The exchange ended with Hawley stating that Steiner should resign if service does not improve.