A coalition of 24 attorneys general, led by Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel, filed a formal comment letter opposing a proposed U.S. Postal Service (USPS) rule that would restrict the delivery of mail-in ballots for upcoming elections. The multi-state coalition is demanding that the independent federal agency immediately withdraw the proposal.
The controversy stems from an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on March 31. The order directs the USPS to create a centralized national list of eligible voters and limits the transmission of mail-in ballots strictly to individuals on that list. Under the directive, state and election officials face potential criminal prosecution and the loss of federal funding if they do not comply.
The USPS proposed rule aims to implement this directive, allowing the agency to refuse delivery of mail-in ballots to any eligible voter not included on the centralized list.
However, a federal judge previously issued an injunction barring the enforcement of the executive order for the 2026 midterm elections following a lawsuit joined by Nessel. Despite that ruling, the USPS has kept the proposed rule on the table.
In their comment letter, the attorneys general argue that the USPS proposal directly violates the federal court order. They state that the rule represents an unconstitutional federal overreach, noting that the Constitution does not grant the President the power to unilaterally change federal election procedures without congressional authorization. The coalition also asserts that the rule conflicts with current federal voting laws and the governing statutes of the USPS itself.
“The Trump administration has spent more than a year scheming to hijack state elections in an attempt to sow chaos and suppress votes,” Nessel said. “Thankfully, time and again, my office and a coalition of attorneys general have defeated them in court. This proposed USPS rule directly violates those court orders and must be rescinded.”
According to the coalition, implementing these changes so close to the 2026 general election would force states to overhaul their election procedures and launch rapid, nationwide voter education campaigns. The attorneys general warn that these abrupt modifications would cause confusion and distrust in state election systems, potentially disenfranchising eligible voters who rely on mail-in systems across all political parties.
The coalition also pointed to a Supreme Court decision issued this week in Watson v. Republican National Committee, which reaffirmed that states hold the primary authority to administer their own elections, including the rules surrounding mail-in voting.
Joining Nessel in signing the comment letter are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawai‘i, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin.
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