Ballot Mail for Federal Elections

Document Headings Document headings vary by document type but may contain the following: the agency or agencies that issued and signed a document the number of the CFR title and the number of each part the document amends, proposes to amend, or is directly related to the agency docket number / agency internal file number the RIN which identifies each regulatory action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions See the Document Drafting Handbook for more details. Postal Service 39 CFR Part 111 AGENCY: Postal Service. ACTION: Final rule. SUMMARY: The Postal Service is amending the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual, regarding the transmission of mail-in or absentee ballots for federal elections pursuant to its rulemaking authority. DATES: Effective August 21, 2026. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Keith Weidner, (202) 268-2950 or Drew Mitchum, (202) 779-2766. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: I. Background On March 31, 2026, the President issued Executive Order 14399 , Ensuring Citizenship Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections, 91 FR 17125 (2026) (“Executive Order” or “Order”). The Executive Order stresses the federal government's “unavoidable duty under Article II of the Constitution of the United States to enforce [f]ederal law, which includes preventing violations of [f]ederal criminal law and maintaining public confidence in election outcomes.” Id. To these ends, the Order points out the need for additional measures concerning the use of the mail in order to facilitate enforcement of federal law, reduce the risk of fraud, and help protect the integrity of federal elections. Id. Following the issuance of the Order, the Postal Service engaged in an interagency review process through the Office of Management and Budget (“OMB”), and subsequently issued a proposed rule regarding the preparation of ballot mail for federal elections to facilitate t…