Kathmandu— The United States Postal Service (USPS) released a 95-page document detailing new rules intended to restrict the use of mail-in ballots under President Donald Trump, despite ongoing legal challenges that have so far blocked them from taking effect. Published Friday, the proposed regulations would require states to comply with federal demands for voter records and redesign ballot envelopes with barcodes for tracking purposes; the USPS argues these changes are necessary for operational efficiency and compliance with federal law. Critics allege the administration is attempting to exert undue federal control over election administration, a responsibility constitutionally reserved for individual states.

Proposed Rules and Legal Challenges

Under the proposed rules, the Postal Service would not distribute mail-in ballots in states that do not meet federal requirements regarding voter records. States would be obligated to provide the USPS with information on voters who have requested mail-in ballots and redesign ballot envelopes to include barcodes for tracking voting materials. These changes, according to the USPS document, are intended to improve operational efficiency and ensure adherence to federal law. However, these rules have faced immediate legal opposition.

Court Injunctions and Administration Defense

In June, US District Judge Indira Talwani initially blocked the implementation of the rules, allowing states to voluntarily adopt them but preventing federal imposition. She reinforced this decision on August 11 with a second preliminary injunction, citing the proximity of the midterm elections and potential for confusion and erosion of trust in the democratic process. “Where [Trump’s executive order] is presently causing confusion and threatening both increasing chaos and an erosion of trust in our democracy, the court finds that enfranchisement heavily outweighs the executive’s attempt to unconstitutionally insert itself into the domain of election regulation,” Talwani wrote. Postmaster General David Steiner has defended the plan, stating it would ensure alignment between state-reported ballot requests and actual ballots sent.

Trump's Focus on Mail-In Voting

President Trump has long been critical of mail-in voting, repeatedly claiming—without evidence—that it is susceptible to fraud. Despite these claims, he himself has voted by mail multiple times, including in the recent Florida primary. Since returning to office for a second term in 2025, Trump has sought additional restrictions on voting and continues to assert that he was the rightful winner of the 2020 presidential election. He also accused California of “cheating” during its primary races after Republican candidates underperformed his expectations.

Leaders from 23 states and the District of Columbia, along with voting rights organizations, have challenged the new rules in court, and the USPS has made the regulations available for immediate implementation should the existing injunctions be lifted.

(With inputs from Al Jazeera)

Originally published on abcnews.com.np.