Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Senator Peter Welch (D-Vt.) , Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee , this week joined the entire Senate Democratic Caucus, led by Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Gary Peters (D-Mich.) , Ranking Member of the Senate Rules and Administration Committee Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) , and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) , in demanding the United States Postal Service (USPS) abandon its proposed rule to implement President Trump’s unconstitutional executive order to restrict voting by mail. Senator Welch previously joined Sens. Peters, Padilla, Schumer, and over 30 Senate Democrats in urging USPS not to carry out the executive order, which would force states to submit absentee voters’ information to the Postal Service for the creation of a federal mail-in voter list. Under the order, USPS could then refuse to deliver ballots to voters who are not included on that list, giving the agency an unprecedented and illegal role in the administration of American elections. USPS did not respond to that letter and has now issued a proposed rule that would ultimately allow the Postal Service to determine whether millions of Americans can receive and cast ballots through the mail. “We write for a second time regarding the unconstitutional and illegal attempt to transform the United States Postal Service into an election administration agency controlled by the White House and President Trump,” wrote the Senators . “In April, 37 senators wrote to you after President Trump issued his Executive Order directing USPS to issue a rule to establish compulsory specifications for election mail and create a master absentee voter list of millions of American voters – with the power to refuse to deliver their ballots.” The Senators continued : “Despite these grave and serious legal deficiencies, on June 2, 2026, USPS published a proposed rule that, if finalized, would establish President Trump’s control over federal elections and allow USPS to adjudicate who can and cannot vote by mail. This proposed rule risks disenfranchising millions of voters. We again insist that you follow the law, refuse to implement President Trump’s Executive Order, and withdraw this presidentially-directed proposed rule.” The Senators warned that the proposed rule would create a federally controlled national list of absentee voters, raising serious concerns about potential misuse and abuse. In court filings, the administration has acknowledged that the Department of Homeland Security is already in discussions with USPS about potentially comparing the list to DHS datasets. The Senators raised concerns that combining USPS data with unreliable federal records could lead to eligible voters being disenfranchised, or voters and election officials being unfairly targeted for investigation. “Ultimately, the proposed rule seeks to create a centralized national absentee voter database with individualized barcodes connected to the voters’ names under the control of the President that contains the voting information of millions of Americans,” wrote the Senators . “That information would be ripe for potential abuse or improper disclosure potentially imperiling the integrity of American elections.” The Senators concluded : “Accordingly, we insist that the Postal Service abandon this proposed regulation and return to its core mission of providing universal postal services to every American. The Constitution and federal law demand nothing less.” Read and download the Senators’ full letter to the U.S. Postal Service. Senator Welch has been outspoken in pushing back against President Trump’s executive order to restrict mail-in voting, including as a cosponsor of the Absentee and Mail Voter Protection Act . Last month, Senator Welch exorciated the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) Civil Rights Division for pushing the mass collection of sensitive and private voter data. Senator Welch emphasized that statements and actions by Civil Rights Division leadership—especially as the 2026 midterm elections approach—risk disenfranchising eligible voters and are contrary to the Civil Rights Division’s statutory mandate to ensure all Americans can freely vote. The Senator also joined colleagues in warning Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Secretary Markwayne Mullin and Social Security Administration (SSA) Commissioner Frank Bisignano against any illegal activity in support of President Trump’s executive order. ###