Donald Trump's proposed plan would have used the United States Postal Service to screen ballot envelopes after they are submitted.
Posted by IHIP News, Checked
- Sources
- 4 support1 context
- Said
- 1 time·
- Confidence
- 85%
IHIP NewsSep 20, 2026
Multiple sources confirm that Trump's plan, as implemented through a USPS rule, would have had the Postal Service screen ballot envelopes after state election officials submitted them, and the claim's 'would have' framing matches the record. The plan was blocked by courts and the Supreme Court, but that later development does not change the claim's accuracy as of 2026-09-20.
This claim is about the present, so it is judged as of the day it was checked.
What was said
… Trump's plan would have required states to provide lists of voters' names approved to receive mail ballots, require specific barcodes on envelopes, which would require a rushed redesign of ballots ahead of elections, and use USPS to screen ballot envelopes after they are submitted. So, number one, my whole life, all I have heard about is states' rights from conservatives. States' rights. I believe they overturned my right to go to an OBGYN and have a private appointment because they valued states' rights. Conservatives did. …
IHIP News · · from the transcriptPost →What we found
Supports. The New York Times reports that Trump administration lawyers urged the justices to clear the way for a plan to use the Postal Service to screen ballot envelopes after they are submitted by state elections officials.[2]
Supports. The Seattle Times, citing USPS notices, reports that if the plan proceeded the agency would screen ballots after they are submitted by election officials and deliver only those that comply with the new rules.[3]
Supports. The Inquirer reports that the stymied attempt to have the Postal Service screen mail ballots was a piece of Trump's broader effort, describing the rules as requiring states to submit lists of approved voters.[4]
Supports. Reuters reports that a federal judge blocked the Postal Service from implementing core parts of a rule adopted at Trump's direction to tighten mail-in voting requirements, confirming the plan existed as a USPS rule.[1]
Context. The Supreme Court later blocked the plan from being enforced for the November elections, so the plan was not in effect; the claim concerns what the plan would have done, which the sources confirm.[2][5]
Sources
5 sources: 1 fact-checker, 1 tier 2, 3 not rated
- 1www.reuters.com › world › judge-blocks-ruleJudge blocks rule implementing Trump plan to restrict mail-in ...reuters.com · fact-checker · cited for: supports
- 2Supreme Court Blocks Trump Administration Plan to ...nytimes.com · tier 2 · cited for: supports, context
- 3Here's how the Postal Service could refuse to deliver your mail ballotseattletimes.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 4Trump’s effort to assert control over elections continues, despite court lossinquirer.com · not rated · cited for: supports
- 5Where does mail-in voting stand with Trump's Supreme ...washingtonexaminer.com · not rated · cited for: context
Where this claim was made
Said in 1 published post
Related claims
- Donald Trump's proposed plan would have required specific barcodes on envelopes for mail-in ballots.True
- Donald Trump's proposed plan would have required states to provide lists of voters' names approved to receive mail ballots.True
- Donald Trump's plan to use the US Postal Service to screen mailed-in votes is being tested in Florida.True
- Trump's administration is planning to use the Postal Service to federalize elections.True
- The Trump administration proposed a USPS mail portal software system for states to log and cross-check voter files.True