On March 31, 2026, President Donald Trump signed an executive order significantly altering the role of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in federal elections, specifically concerning mail-in voting. The order, titled “Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections,” has drawn swift criticism and promises of legal action.

Executive Order Details

The executive order directs states to provide the USPS with a list of voters intending to use mail-in or absentee ballots 60 days before any federal election. The USPS would then create “unique ballot envelope identifiers, such as bar codes” for these voters and would only deliver ballots to those on the approved list.

Citizenship Verification

Separately, the order instructs the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to collaborate with the Social Security Administration and utilize federal databases to compile a list of adult citizens in each state. This list would be sent to state election officials, though voters would still be required to register according to state laws.

Reactions and Legal Challenges

During the signing ceremony at the White House, Trump stated the order’s purpose was to ensure “honest voting” in the country, asserting, “if you don’t have honest voting, you can’t have, really, a nation.”

However, experts predict immediate legal challenges. Danielle Lang, vice president for voting rights at the Campaign Legal Center, stated, “The president has no power to direct the creation of any of these lists or to restrict the delivery of mail ballots to any given list.”

Constitutional Concerns

Election law professor Rick Hasen of UCLA described the order as “pretty mild, given what could have been, but it’s still unconstitutional and not something that could really be implemented in time.” He added that courts would likely halt any attempt to implement the changes before the November election.

Jeffery Adams, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service, confirmed the agency was “reviewing the executive order” but did not immediately comment on its potential compliance.

Impact on State Election Procedures

State election officials expressed concerns about the order’s feasibility and potential disruption to existing procedures. Wisconsin Elections Commission chair Ann Jacobs worried about the 60-day list requirement, as Wisconsin law allows voters to request mail ballots closer to Election Day.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes called the order “a disgusting overreach from the federal government” and pledged to fight it in court. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes echoed this sentiment, stating the state’s existing mail-in voting system is secure and accusing Trump of attempting to control who votes.

Implementation Challenges

Tammy Patrick, chief programs officer at The Election Center, noted the order relies on a ballot-tracking barcode system she helped develop, but lacks funding and a clear implementation path. She emphasized that many local election offices lack the resources to comply.

The order also mandates the use of official election envelopes with Postal Service intelligent mail barcodes, a requirement that Patrick believes will be difficult for many jurisdictions to meet given existing constraints.