States that do not comply with a proposed federal voter-data requirement could lose access to Postal Service election-mail delivery under a new rule being considered in connection with President Donald Trump’s election integrity executive order, Postmaster General David Steiner indicated during Senate testimony Wednesday.
The proposal came under direct questioning during a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee hearing when Michigan Sen. Gary Peters (D) asked whether mail-in ballots would still be delivered if a state refused to submit absentee voter information requested under the proposal.
“Under our proposed regulation, no,” Steiner responded directly.
He also said states would be informed that voter manifest data would be required for participation in the election-mail system.
Steiner’s remarks offered the most detailed public explanation to date of how the proposal could affect states that choose not to comply with the federal requirements.
The discussion comes as the United States Postal Service (USPS) considers a rule tied to Trump’s March 31 executive order aimed at tightening election security standards for mail voting and ballot handling.
Under the proposed framework, states would be required to provide voter lists identifying individuals expected to vote by mail before federal elections.
The system is intended to support ballot verification, tracking procedures, and updated standards for official election mail processing across states.
A final rule is expected after a public comment period later this summer.
The policy could have major implications for states that rely heavily on mail voting.
Eight states—California, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Vermont, and Washington—along with Washington, D.C., automatically mail ballots to all registered voters.
Those jurisdictions could be required to submit large-scale voter data to remain in compliance with the proposed system, according to Jefferson Public Radio.
Democratic senators sharply criticized the proposal during the hearing, warning it could place new burdens on election officials and interfere with state control of election administration.
Michigan Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D) described the rule as “another backdoor way of trying to influence this election,” urging USPS leadership to avoid involvement in politically sensitive election disputes.
Steiner rejected claims that the Postal Service was acting on political motives.
“I’m not a political person and the Postal Service is not a political organization,” he told senators, adding that the agency would comply with any court ruling that ultimately blocked or limited the regulation.
The proposal has already triggered legal action from Democratic-led states and voting rights organizations, which argue the federal government lacks constitutional authority to impose such requirements on state-run election systems.
Supporters of the executive order, however, argue the changes are needed to improve voter verification, reduce fraud risks, and strengthen public confidence in mail-in voting systems, according to The New York Times.
The regulation is currently undergoing a 30-day public comment period, with the executive order directing the Postal Service to finalize the rule later this summer.
Federal courts are currently weighing multiple challenges brought by states and voting rights groups.
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