New USPS proposal would require states to submit absentee voter lists

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The U.S. Postal Service is weighing a new requirement that would change how states handle vote-by-mail elections, calling for detailed absentee voter lists to be submitted before ballots are sent.

Under the proposal, ballots would not be distributed unless those lists are provided to USPS, according to the Postmaster General.

Officials said the goal is to improve the security and tracking of mailed ballots, including the use of unique barcodes and standardized envelopes designed to streamline processing.

The plan is already facing pushback from lawmakers, including a member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, who said the proposal oversteps federal authority.

The discussion adds another layer to the national debate over mail-in voting rules and the federal government’s role in election administration.