Postmaster General David Steiner told a Senate committee Wednesday that the U.S. Postal Service would restrict delivery of mail-in ballots to states that fail to provide lists of eligible voters, backing a Trump administration initiative aimed at tightening verification ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

Steiner appeared before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee to address the proposed rule, which stems from a late-March executive order signed by President Donald Trump.

The order requires states to submit certified lists of eligible voters at least 60 days before any federal election. States that do not comply could face restrictions on USPS handling of their mail-in ballots.

Proposal Requires Voter List Submission

Under the plan, the Postal Service would use the voter lists provided by states to verify addresses and recipients before delivering ballots. Steiner described the proposal as a straightforward measure intended to ensure ballots reach only eligible voters.

“I would think that states would want the information to ensure that the ballots that they think they’re sending out are the ballots that are actually getting sent out,” Steiner said in response to questions from ranking member Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.).

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Steiner pointed to a May incident in Maryland, where some voters received incorrect ballots before the state’s primary election. He argued that the proposed verification process could have helped prevent such errors.

Trump previously accused Maryland election officials of attempting to benefit Democrats and called for a Justice Department review of the issue.

The proposed rule still requires approval from the USPS Board of Directors. If adopted, it would mark a significant change in the Postal Service’s role in supporting mail voting and its interaction with state election offices.

Democrats Against Trump

Senate Democrats sharply criticized the proposal, arguing that it exceeds the Postal Service’s authority and represents federal interference in elections traditionally administered by states.

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Sen. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.) characterized the measure as an attempt by the Trump administration to exert greater control over election administration.

“The Postal Service is one of the most important institutions in our country,” Slotkin said. “Don’t taint it with the obsession of this one man.”

Democrats on the committee questioned the constitutional basis for the proposal, noting that election administration is largely delegated to the states.

They argued that the Postal Service’s responsibility is to deliver mail, not determine voter eligibility or enforce election-related requirements.

Republicans on the panel largely focused on the Postal Service’s financial condition. The agency reported a $9 billion net loss last year as traditional mail volumes continued to decline.

Steiner said recent cost-cutting measures, including suspending some pension contributions, have improved the agency’s outlook and reduced concerns that it could run out of funds next year. Still, he acknowledged that USPS operates under what he called a “broken business model.”