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NewsWPLG Local 10 – Main FeedJuly 29, 2026United States

Concerns Over Mail-In Ballot Delays and New Postal Service Rules

The U.S. Postal Service is facing scrutiny over potential mail-in ballot delays and a controversial executive order from President Trump that seeks to create a national voter eligibility list. Election officials in several states are advising voters to drop off ballots in person to avoid potential processing issues, while legal battles over the new voter list continue in federal courts.

electionsvoting rightspostal servicemail-in ballotsexecutive orderslitigation
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Why It Matters

Voters in upcoming elections face potential changes to how mail-in ballots are processed and delivered, with some state officials recommending in-person drop-offs to ensure ballots are counted on time.

Key Facts

  • President Trump issued an executive order in March seeking to create a national voter list to determine mail-in ballot eligibility.
  • The U.S. Postal Service proposed a rule in June to implement the national voter list based on federal agency databases.
  • A federal judge in Massachusetts blocked the executive order, and the case is currently before the U.S. Supreme Court.
  • The Postal Service has consolidated mail processing into fewer regional centers, increasing the average distance mail travels to 139-500 miles.
  • California rejected over 148,000 ballots in its June primary, with 63% arriving after the deadline.
  • The American Postal Workers Union opposes the creation of a national voter list and the use of postal workers to manage it.
  • California allocated $10 million for public awareness campaigns to discourage last-minute ballot mailing.
  • The Postal Service advises voters to mail ballots at least one week before the state's receipt deadline.
  • A 2025 Brookings report identified approximately four cases of fraud per 10 million mail ballots cast.
  • The Postal Service Office of Inspector General reported that 97.3% of the 59 million ballots handled in the 2024 election arrived on time.

Who's Mentioned

organizationU.S. Postal Service“Federal agency responsible for mail delivery and ballot processing.”organizationAmerican Postal Workers Union“Union representing postal workers, opposing the new voter list portal.”personAghogho Edevbie“Deputy Secretary of State for Michigan.”personJoe Biden“Former President and 2020 election opponent of Donald Trump.”personTammy Baldwin“U.S. Senator from Wisconsin.”personJonathan Smith“President of the American Postal Workers Union.”organizationBrookings“Research group that published reports on ballot fraud and mail processing.”personScott Schwab“Secretary of State for Kansas.”personJamie Shew“Election official in Douglas County, Kansas.”personWhitney Tempel“Spokesperson for the Kansas Secretary of State.”personDonald Trump“President who issued an executive order regarding mail-in ballots and voter list”