Story perspectives

Trump Executive Order Adds New Mail Voting Rules

9/3/2026

Summary

Story summary

President Donald Trump issued an executive order adding new federal mail-voting rules.
The order mandates barcode-marked envelopes and requires states to notify USPS 90 days before elections with a recipient list.
A Massachusetts judge issued a 14-day restraining order against voting rules.
The Supreme Court let the order proceed without ruling on its constitutionality.
Voting Rights Lab adviser Liz Avore warned the rules could cost millions and disenfranchise voters.

History

Historical Context

After the 2000 presidential election dispute, Congress passed the Help America Vote Act, signed by President George W. Bush on October 29 2002, allocating $1.5 billion for voting-system upgrades and creating the Election Assistance Commission. In 2024 President Donald Trump issued an executive order requiring barcode-marked mail ballots and USPS notice deadlines, echoing HAVA’s federal oversight of mail voting.

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Story summary

President Donald Trump issued an executive order adding new federal mail-voting rules.
The order mandates barcode-marked envelopes and requires states to notify USPS 90 days before elections with a recipient list.
A Massachusetts judge issued a 14-day restraining order against voting rules.
The Supreme Court let the order proceed without ruling on its constitutionality.
Voting Rights Lab adviser Liz Avore warned the rules could cost millions and disenfranchise voters.

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