Privacy Act of 1974; System of Records
What happened
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is proposing to create a new Privacy Act System of Records for mail-in and absentee ballots, effective if a related rule amending the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) takes effect. This follows Executive Order 14399, Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections, issued on March 31, 2026. The new system, signed by Donald Trump, would maintain records including individuals' addresses and ballot barcode numbers, to be provided by state election officials. This proposal is contingent on relief from active litigation and injunctions against the DMM amendment.
Why it matters
This new system would standardize how the USPS collects and stores data about federal election ballots, potentially affecting the privacy of voters. It aims to facilitate adherence to federal law and law enforcement efforts, alongside a broader effort to ensure citizenship verification in federal elections. The system's implementation is tied to ongoing legal challenges and a separate proposed rule regarding ballot mail standards.
Who it affects
- ›Individuals receiving federal absentee ballots
- ›Individuals receiving federal mail-in ballots
- ›State chief election officials
- ›Mail service providers authorized by election officials
- ›USPS employees managing the Federal Ballot Portal
The receipts are official. The summary is ours.
Read on Federal Register ↗Summaries are generated from the official text and may simplify or omit nuance. The official document is the source of truth.