The US Postal Service began enforcing new mail ballot rules in late August 2026, requiring states to submit voter rolls and use barcoded envelope designs ahead of the November midterm elections [1, 2, 3]. These rules allow USPS to reject mail ballots that do not meet these standards or come from voters not listed on eligible state voter rolls [1, 2, 4, 3].

The rules come from a March 2026 executive order signed by former President Donald Trump, seeking tighter controls on mail voting to prevent alleged fraud [1, 4, 3]. Trump has repeatedly claimed, falsely, that mail voting caused his 2020 election loss, though he voted by mail himself [5, 4, 3].

Legal challenges quickly followed. Twenty-four states plus the District of Columbia sued, calling the USPS rules unconstitutional and arguing they infringe on state and congressional election authority [1, 5, 4, 3]. U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani initially blocked the rules but her injunction was lifted by the Supreme Court on August 24, 2026, allowing the rules to take effect pending further review [1, 5, 4, 3].

Following the Supreme Court’s action, Talwani reissued a temporary restraining order on August 27 or 28, 2026, pausing USPS enforcement until a scheduled hearing on September 3 [5, 4]. She cited the states’ lack of time or funds to redesign ballots, approve new designs, produce them, update election systems, train officials, and upload voter data before the midterms. “Plaintiff states have neither time nor funds” to meet the new demands, Talwani said [5].

Nearly one-third of Americans vote by mail, and election officials have warned the USPS requirements could disrupt ballot delivery and complicate election administration [5, 2]. USPS maintains the changes will improve ballot tracking and help prevent fraud by mandating barcodes and voter list submissions [2].

The dispute divides between those who say the rules must be enforced now after Supreme Court clearance, and those citing the urgent logistical challenges and recent restraining orders blocking implementation before the midterms [1, 5, 2, 4, 3].

A court hearing on whether to extend the preliminary injunction against the USPS mail ballot rules is scheduled for September 3, 2026 [5, 4].