Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.) condemned a proposed U.S. Postal Service rule that would withhold mail-in ballots from states refusing to share voter-roll data [1].

The proposal creates a potential conflict between state election authorities and the federal government. If implemented, the rule could prevent thousands of citizens from casting their votes in upcoming elections if their state government declines to provide absentee-ballot request data to the Trump administration [1].

During a hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs on June 24, 2026 [2], Postmaster General David Steiner outlined the policy. Steiner said, "If a state does not provide the data, we will not deliver mail ballots" [3].

Peters responded by calling the plan illegal and unacceptable [1]. He said the rule threatens the fundamental right to vote and would politicize the delivery of ballots [1]. The senator argued that the move could disenfranchise voters in states that prioritize the privacy of voter-roll data, or oppose federal oversight of those records [1].

The dispute centers on whether the Postal Service has the legal authority to condition the delivery of official election materials on the cooperation of state governments. Peters said the Postal Service's plan is illegal and could disenfranchise voters [1].

Steiner said the data is necessary for the Postal Service's operations during the hearing held on June 24, 2026 [2]. However, critics suggest the requirement is a mechanism for federal surveillance of voter activity rather than a logistical necessity [1].

“"This rule is unacceptable and threatens the fundamental right to vote."”

This conflict highlights a growing tension between federal administrative requirements and state-level election autonomy. By tying the physical delivery of ballots to the surrender of voter data, the USPS is moving from a neutral logistics provider to an entity that can influence voter turnout based on state compliance with federal data requests.