Illinois Democrats condemn USPS election mail proposal
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
Illinois Democrats are warning the Trump administration could sidestep a federal court order blocking parts of President Trump's election executive order, raising concerns about voting by mail before the 2026 midterms.
Why it matters: Illinois officials say the dispute could force changes to election procedures and voter education.
The latest: A federal judge blocked key parts of Trump's election executive order, including provisions requiring federally approved voter lists and restricting mail ballots.
Context: Postmaster General David Steiner appeared before Congress in late June, suggesting that USPS could still move ahead with aspects of the executive order despite the federal injunction.
Zoom in: Gov. JB Pritzker joined other Democratic governors in criticizing Trump and the USPS for failing to follow court orders. They sent a letter to USPS last week that read, in part, "Our states do not just serve as 'guard dogs' for any federal misbehavior. Instead, states remain significantly functionally independent of, and resistant to capture by, the Executive Branch."
- Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.) demanded Steiner make a "public commitment" that the USPS will fully comply with the federal court injunction blocking Trump's executive order.
- "If you continue to move forward despite the court ruling ... I will move to subpoena you and lead the effort to remove you from your post," Krishnamoorthi said in a recent release.
Meanwhile, in Illinois, Attorney General Kwame Raoul has joined 24 attorneys general from other states calling on the Postal Service to withdraw the proposed rule, threatening legal action.
The intrigue: USPS could implement mandated voter lists and absentee voting restrictions before the 2026 midterms, giving states limited time to adjust.
- Election officials say the changes could require updates to ballot processing timelines, voter education campaigns and coordination with local election authorities before the 2026 election.
- "The right to vote is at the very core of our nation's democracy. In Illinois, we are focused on maximizing voter participation — not voter suppression. I call on the Postal Service to rescind this unlawful proposal," Raoul said in a release.
The big picture: The USPS proposal comes after the Supreme Court let states, including Illinois, continue counting ballots postmarked by Election Day and received afterward.
Zoom out: More Americans are choosing to mail in their votes. Mail ballots accounted for roughly 30% of votes cast in the 2024 election.
- Trump has repeatedly alleged widespread fraud involving mail voting, though courts, election officials and numerous reviews have found no evidence of fraud on a scale that would change election outcomes.