USPS Is Building a Mail-In Ballot Screening System Despite Legal Battles Over Trump Order
NYT > U.S. > Politics — 2026-09-02 15:17:00 — www.nytimes.com
Donald Trump Pushes Restrictive Mail-In Voting Measures Amid False Fraud Claims
President Trump has insisted that restricting mail-in voting is essential to protect election security, even as his administration pushes the U.S. Postal Service to rapidly develop a complex screening system for mail-in ballots ahead of the midterm elections. Trump has publicly stated that limiting mail voting could help Republicans retain control of Congress, and he has repeatedly promoted false claims of widespread mail-in voting fraud—despite voting by mail himself in two elections this year.
The president’s executive order, signed in March, directs the Postal Service to create state-by-state lists of eligible voters and requires states to submit voter data to the agency before ballots are delivered. This move has drawn legal challenges from more than two dozen Democratic state attorneys general and voting rights organizations, who argue that it violates the Constitution’s provision granting states the authority to run elections.
Despite a court order temporarily blocking implementation of Trump’s plan, the Postal Service has continued developing the new portal, asserting that its actions are legally permissible as long as states are not yet required to use the system. Critics, including a whistle-blower within the agency, warn that the rushed and poorly defined project could jeopardize the ability of Americans to vote by mail and undermine confidence in the electoral process.
Trump’s efforts to restrict mail-in voting come as he continues to spread unfounded allegations of fraud, contradicting the fact that he has personally used mail-in ballots. The administration’s push for new screening measures has raised concerns among election officials, particularly in states with limited resources, about the feasibility and fairness of the new requirements.
In summary, President Trump’s campaign to limit mail-in voting is marked by false claims of fraud and aggressive executive action, raising significant legal, logistical, and ethical questions as the nation approaches the midterm elections.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/02/us/politics/postal-service-ballot-screening-system.html