Statement From U.S. Postal Service Postmaster General David Steiner Regarding Concerns About Ballot Mail for Federal Elections

WASHINGTON, Sept. 4, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- There has been a lot of misinformation and speculation about the Postal Service's role in issuing a rule consistent with the policies set forth in Executive Order 14399, which concerns ballot mail for federal elections. We would like to set the record straight as to what the USPS is actually doing with respect to the order.

First and foremost, we are an establishment within the Executive Branch, whose job is to deliver the mail in a manner consistent with achieving the policies set forth by policymakers. In this situation, the Executive Order pointed out the need for additional measures concerning the sending of ballot mail in order to facilitate enforcement of federal law and address concerns about election integrity. It was fully appropriate for the Postal Service, as a part of the Executive Branch, to take action to help achieve the policy goals articulated in the Executive Order, by issuing the Federal Ballot Mail Ballot Rule that sets forth standards deemed necessary to ensure the faithful execution of federal law, and enhance the efficiency of postal operations. We have at all times acted within our legal authority to issue a rule to achieve those policies, but ultimately the courts will decide that question, and we will follow the court's determination. It is that simple.

What is the Federal Ballot Mail Rule?

The Federal Ballot Mail Rule essentially has two parts. The first part is the requirement that federal ballot mail be prepared using unique barcodes and specified envelope designs. These requirements help greatly in the processing and transportation of the ballots. And the concept is not new. The USPS has recommended both aspects for years (see the USPS Kit 600). And many states, from Oregon to California to Arizona to Florida, and many others, prepare their ballots in a manner generally consistent with these recommendations. But it is not only the USPS that has recommended a unique bar code and designated envelope designs. The United States House of Representatives has considered and passed bipartisan bills requiring exactly that. In 2024 the House passed a bill requiring a unique barcode and specially designed envelop by a vote of 396-6, which is the very definition of bipartisan. Earlier this year a similar bill with the same ballot tracking elements was introduced on a bipartisan basis and passed the House Oversight Committee by a wide bipartisan majority. So, it is clear that our rule is not breaking new and uncharted ground but simply using our existing legal authority to implement policies that have previously received bipartisan endorsement.

The second part of the Federal Ballot Mail Rule involves the list of individuals who are receiving ballots through the mail. To be very clear, those lists will consist entirely of information prepared and submitted to the Postal Service by the States. The USPS does not edit, change, review or question the contents of the list—the list is merely a list of voters that a State says are receiving a ballot through the mail, along with the associated unique barcodes. The USPS will then verify mailings to ensure that they correspond to the lists provided by the States. So basically, the State provided list is a manifest identifying the recipients of ballot mail. The USPS receives manifests from customers all of the time, so matching a manifest to the actual shipped product is also not fundamentally new.

Status of Whistleblower complaint

Recent concerns raised by a whistleblower focused on the compressed project timeline and the potential risks associated with an accelerated development schedule. Employees expressed concern that the shortened timeframe could limit opportunities to fully validate system performance, security, and stability, potentially increasing the risk of issues following deployment.

The Postal Service takes these concerns seriously. From the outset, the project has been managed using a structured and adaptable development approach designed to respond to evolving court orders, policy guidance, and stakeholder requirements. Teams met daily to identify and assess risks, resolve technical issues, and surface questions requiring legal or policy clarification. Those matters were promptly escalated to the appropriate decision-makers. Throughout the effort, we followed established development and risk-management practices appropriate to the circumstances and complied with applicable court orders.

Although development proceeded on an accelerated schedule, our standards for quality, security, and system integrity were not compromised. Testing and validation have been continuous throughout the development lifecycle, and our process requires that deployment be delayed whenever significant defects or security vulnerabilities are identified, until those issues are appropriately resolved.

We stand behind both the rigor of our process and the resulting system. At the same time, we recognize that responsible system management does not end at deployment. We will continue to monitor performance, address issues as they arise, and make adjustments when warranted. The Postal Service remains committed to maintaining the security, reliability, and integrity of its systems.

Regardless of political party or perspective, we share a common goal: ensuring that Americans can have confidence that their election mail will be handled securely and delivered reliably should their election officials choose to use the mail for ballot delivery.

We welcome thoughtful questions and appropriate oversight, and we are committed to transparency, accountability, and working constructively with election officials, Congress, the courts, and all stakeholders. 

We do however demand the same care and respect for the work we do, as we grant to those policymakers who govern our activities.

Postal employees take great pride in their responsibility to support the democratic process. We will continue to approach that responsibility with the care, professionalism, and dedication that voters and election officials expect from the United States Postal Service.

usps.com/news

SOURCE U.S. Postal Service