https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/06/02/2026-10968/ballot-mail-for-federal-electionsDirect information
BackgroundOn March 31, 2026, the President issued
Executive Order 14399,
Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,91 FR 17125 (2026) ("Order"). The Executive Order discusses the importance of additional measures concerning the use of the mails to vote in federal elections, in order to facilitate enforcement of federal law, reduce the risk of fraud, and help protect the integrity of federal elections. Following the issuance of the Order, the Postal Service submitted this proposed rule to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for interagency review. Subsequent to that review process, the Postal Service issues this proposed rule regarding the preparation of ballot mail for federal elections to facilitate the enforcement of federal law. The proposed rule would also implement best practices for Postal Service operations regarding ballot mail.
Proposed RuleThe Postal Service is proposing to add a section to DMM 705,
Advanced Preparation and Special Postage Payment Systems, that contains the following preparation conditions when mailing ballots for general, special, or run-off federal elections, except that these conditions do not apply to ballots covered under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (
52 U.S.C. 20301 et seq.):
Envelope Design and Review Standard- DMM 705.24.3 would identify new standards for the envelope design and review for outbound and return ballot envelopes, which are consistent with the Postal Service's existing recommended best practices. These standards include the use of the official Election Mail logo, automation compatibility, placement of a uniquely serialized Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) on each outbound and return ballot envelope, and a mailpiece design review.
Pre-Election Notification of Intent To Use Postal System for Ballot Delivery- DMM 705.24.2 would provide for an optional pre-mailing notice that states may provide to the Postal Service, and facilitate the process for states to enroll individuals with the Postal Service for inclusion on state-specific lists for mail-in and absentee ballot participation.
Mail-In and Absentee Participation List- DMM 705.24.4 would establish a process by which (1) states (including authorized election officials and their mail service providers) will notify the Postal Service of the individuals to whom they are mailing a mail-in or absentee ballot, along with the unique barcode applied to the outbound and return ballot mail envelope for such individuals such that the name and barcode of the voter will be included on a Mail-In and Absentee Participation List; (2) states (including authorized election officials and their mail service providers) may thereafter add to or modify the list of enrollees until the last day that ballots may be mailed out to individuals under state law; and (3) the Postal Service will provide to each state's chief election official a final State-Specific Mail-In and Absentee Participation List for each state compiling the names of all enrolled individuals in such state, along with the barcodes associated with such individuals' mail-in or absentee ballots.
24.4.2 Enrollmenta. Any state that intends to receive mail-in or absentee ballots from individual voters through the Postal Service must ensure that such individuals have been enrolled with the Postal Service for inclusion on the state's Mail-In and Absentee Participation List.
b. In order for an individual to be enrolled with the Postal Service for inclusion on a state's Mail-In and Absentee Participation List, a Ballot Portal User in that state must provide the following information through the Postal Service Federal Ballot Mail Portal:
1. Name of individual receiving a mail-in or absentee ballot;
2. Address of individual receiving a mail-in or absentee ballot;
3. Unique IMb on the Outbound Federal Ballot Mail envelope sent to the individual;
4. Unique IMb on the Return Federal Ballot Mail envelope sent to the individual; and
5. Originating election office state.
c. An individual will be deemed enrolled with the Postal Service for inclusion on a state's Mail-In and Absentee Participation List as of the date that the information in 24.4.2.b is provided.
d. Ballot Portal Users must provide the information in 24.4.2.b at least 30 days before the date of the federal election, to the extent practicable, or by the date on which mail-in or absentee ballots may begin to be mailed under state law. Ballot Portal Users may make supplemental submissions to enroll additional individuals or modify prior submissions until the last day that ballots may be mailed out to individuals under state law. A separate submission is required in connection with each Outbound Federal Ballot mailing, regardless of the number of mailpieces in the mailing.
e. The information provided in 24.4.2.b must meet the Postal Service's technical specifications for the Federal Ballot Mail Portal.
f. Ballot Portal Users must certify to the Postal Service that any mail-in or absentee ballots their state's authorized ballot mailers provide to the Postal Service for mailing meet the standards in 24.3.1 and 24.3.2.
