USPS postmaster threatens to suppress mail ballots unless states hand over voter lists
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Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee that a new USPS rule would force states to surrender voter lists before mail ballots are delivered, effectively holding mail-in voting hostage to federal demands.
Postmaster General David Steiner appeared before the Senate Homeland Security Committee to defend a draconian proposal that would require states to submit a manifest of voters who have requested mail-in or absentee ballots at least 30 days before ballots are mailed. Under this scheme, the Postal Service would refuse to deliver ballots to states that do not comply, effectively disenfranchising countless voters.
This alarming proposal is rooted in a March 2026 executive order that seeks to centralize control over voter lists in the hands of the federal government, undermining state autonomy and threatening the right to vote. If implemented, the rule would create a federal registration list for absentee voters, raising serious concerns about privacy and civil liberties.
Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), the committee’s ranking member, condemned the rule as an attempt to "coerce" states into surrendering sensitive voter data, warning that it could block access to ballots in states like Oregon that rely on mail voting. He called the move "unacceptable" and a blatant attack on democratic participation.
Senator Margaret Hassan (D-N.H.) demanded Steiner withdraw the rule, calling it "blatantly illegal" and designed to suppress voter turnout. Steiner, however, insisted the Postal Service would only back down if forced by a court, showing disregard for the will of the people.
Despite previously claiming it does not set election rules, the Postal Service now hides behind so-called "Kit 600" best practices, pushing a policy that goes far beyond mere guidance. Multiple federal courts are now considering challenges to this dangerous executive order and USPS regulation, which threaten the foundation of American democracy.
