US Mail Ballot Policies and Legal Challenges
A narrative arc centered on the US Postal Service's policies regarding mail ballots and legal challenges to these policies, particularly under the Trump administration and subsequent court rulings.
January 2006
Federal Act Required USPS to Prefund Health and Retirement Benefits
A federal act in 2006 required the United States Postal Service to prefund its health and retirement benefits 75 years in advance. This policy was noted as benefiting private shipping companies such as UPS and FedEx.
Source ↗June 2026
Supreme Court Rules States Can Count Late-Arriving Mailed Ballots
The Supreme Court ruled that states are permitted to count mailed ballots that arrive after Election Day. This decision rejected a challenge led by Republicans concerning laws in more than half the states and the District of Columbia.
Source ↗Postmaster General David Steiner Confirms Mail Ballot Withholding Plan
Postmaster General David Steiner announced a plan for his agency to withhold mail ballots. This action is contingent upon states declining to provide voter data under a proposed rule.
Source ↗U.S. Postal Service cancels meeting with Washington lawmakers
U.S. Postal Service officials canceled a scheduled public meeting with Washington state lawmakers. The cancellation occurred just hours before the appearance before a state House panel.
Source ↗U.S. Postal Service proposes federal oversight for mail-in voting
The U.S. Postal Service proposed a rule change requiring state election officials to share mail-in voter lists with the agency. The proposal also sets new conditions for states to send ballots via mail.
Source ↗Washington Legislature established vote-by-mail option in 2005
The Washington Legislature established vote-by-mail as an option for all elections in 2005. By 2011, the Legislature adopted it as a statewide requirement.
Source ↗Postmaster General Confirms Plan to Withhold Mail Ballots
The Postmaster General confirmed a proposal to withhold mail ballots from states that refuse to turn over their absentee voter lists to the federal government. This confirmation was discussed by Senator Gary Peters during a committee inquiry.
Source ↗Postmaster General announces USPS refusal to send mail ballots
The Postmaster General announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will not send mail ballots to states that do not provide required voter lists. This action is tied to federal requirements for mail-in voting.
Source ↗USPS threatens ballot refusal for non-compliant states
The USPS has indicated it will refuse to handle mail-in ballots from states that do not conform to new federal requirements. These requirements mandate that states submit all requested voter data to the federal government.
Source ↗Postmaster General states USPS delivery contingent on state voter rolls
The Postmaster general announced that the United States Postal Service (USPS) will withhold the delivery of mail ballots. This action is conditional upon states providing voter rolls to the Trump administration.
Source ↗Supreme Court rules on mail ballot counting after election day
The Supreme Court issued a 5-4 ruling regarding the counting of mail ballots. The Court decided that states may continue counting mail ballots if they were postmarked by the deadline, rejecting a challenge from the RNC.
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