Key facts
- A proposal attributed to Donald Trump would restrict mail-in voting.
- Postal Service Chief Louis DeJoy defended the proposal as a procedural step to ensure ballots are sent to eligible voters.
- Democrats argue the U.S. Postal Service lacks the constitutional authority to administer election rules.
- Sen. Elissa Slotkin described the proposal as an attempt by the Trump administration to control elections.
A proposal attributed to Donald Trump would restrict mail-in voting, according to Postal Service Chief Louis DeJoy. The proposal comes ahead of the November midterms, a period when the president's party typically loses congressional seats.
Republicans in Congress have expressed concern that Trump's domestic agenda and an unpopular war are hindering their electoral prospects. Democrats, meanwhile, questioned the Postal Service's constitutional authority to enforce such a rule, arguing that election administration is a state responsibility.
DeJoy stated that the Postal Service is not responsible for administering elections but framed the rule as a procedural measure to ensure ballots are sent only to eligible voters. He cited a May incident where Maryland voters received incorrect ballots, suggesting the proposed rules could have prevented such issues.