USPS intensifies mail‑in voting rules ahead of midterms despite court blocks

The USPS plans to publish a final rule that would force states to share voter lists with federal agencies and adopt stricter mail-ballot procedures, including a Federal Ballot Mail Portal to verify ballots, with the agency saying it would stop delivering ballots if states don’t comply. Two federal injunctions in California and Massachusetts currently block the changes, even as the administration has sued about 30 states for withholding voter data. The rule ties to a March executive order aimed at restricting mail voting, and officials say changes could take effect if injunctions are lifted. Public comments on the proposal exceeded 200,000, and Trump has publicly supported tighter mail-voting rules while himself voting by mail in a Florida primary this year.