Steiner ‘manifest’ – Democratic lawmakers blasted Postmaster General David Steiner after he said the USPS could refuse to deliver mail ballots to states that don’t share absentee voter information with the Trump administration, calling the demand “unacceptable” and “blatantly ille
For one stark moment during Senate testimony, the conversation stopped being about logistics and turned into a fight over who controls the ballot.
Asked whether the U.S. Postal Service would continue delivering mail ballots to states that refuse to provide absentee voter lists to the Trump administration, Postmaster General David Steiner delivered a blunt answer: “No.” He added, “We would tell the state that we need the manifest.”
Sen. Gary Peters of Michigan, the committee’s ranking Democrat, moved quickly to challenge what he described as a coercive setup. Peters said the proposal amounted to a federal “back-door” to access voter information that states control under the U.S. Constitution. “This is basically a back-door way for the federal government to get voting information that states control under the U.S. Constitution,” Peters said. He warned that the threat of losing mail ballot delivery would force states into a choice that undercuts voter access. “You’re telling the states, ‘Give the federal government this information. Trust the federal government. Trust the Trump administration. We’ll take good care of these.’ And if you don’t do it. you can’t mail absentee ballots.’ You are going to make a decision that people cannot vote by mail. That’s unacceptable.”.
Sen. Margaret Hassan of New Hampshire joined the pushback, arguing that the USPS policy would exceed federal authority and harm participation in elections. She called the approach “blatantly illegal” and demanded that Steiner withdraw the proposal “immediately.”
The legal fight sits on top of a larger policy effort tied to President Donald Trump’s executive order. Issued on March 31. the directive—titled Ensuring Citizen Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections—ordered federal agencies to help create lists of verified U.S. citizens eligible to vote by mail. It directed USPS to send absentee ballots only to approved voters and called for ballot-tracking measures. including unique barcodes on mail-ballot envelopes.
Democrats and voting-rights groups have framed the order as an overreach from the start. Multiple lawsuits were filed by Democratic-led states and voting-rights organizations. with critics arguing the measure exceeds presidential authority because the Constitution gives states primary responsibility for administering elections. while Congress sets national election standards. A federal judge in Massachusetts previously allowed key legal challenges to proceed.
Among the plaintiffs are the League of Women Voters of Massachusetts, the League of Women Voters, the Association of Americans Resident Overseas, the U.S. Vote Foundation, OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates, and Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc.
In a statement. the groups said the Trump order is “plainly unconstitutional. ” while the USPS and the Department of Homeland Security are “actively working to implement it.” They added that implementation “threatens to disenfranchise untold numbers of American citizens. including elderly. disabled and student voters and voters of color who rely on mail-in balloting.”.
Marcia Johnson. chief of activation and justice at the League of Women Voters. underscored the argument in similar terms. saying “Mail voting helps millions of Americans participate in our democracy. including seniors. voters with disabilities. military families. students. caregivers and working people.” She continued: “No president has the authority to unilaterally rewrite election rules or dictate how states administer their elections. The League will continue to fight for and defend every voter’s freedom to make their voice heard.”.
The pushback from lawmakers and advocates lands in the middle of Trump’s continued campaign against mail voting. Since returning to office in January 2025, he has made tighter voting restrictions a central part of his election-integrity agenda. In a Michigan rally in February 2024. Trump said. “Mail-in voting is totally corrupt — get that through your head. it has to be. ” and later. during an interview with Dr. Phil McGraw, he added, “Anytime you have a mail-in ballot, there is going to be massive fraud.”.
Election officials from both parties have consistently said widespread voter fraud remains rare. Still, Trump has continued to press for restrictions. In a Truth Social post last week. he voiced opposition for Utah’s move toward an all-mail voting system. claiming votes “always head LEFT. as soon as the move is made.”.
At the center of the dispute now is Steiner’s position in testimony—whether the USPS will continue delivering ballots when states do not comply with the federal government’s demand for absentee voter lists. and whether those lists will become leverage over who gets access to mail voting. Peters called the potential result “unacceptable,” while Hassan pressed Steiner to withdraw the proposal “immediately.”.
David Steiner U.S. Postal Service USPS mail ballots absentee voter lists Gary Peters Margaret Hassan Ensuring Citizen Verification and Integrity in Federal Elections March 31 executive order Trump lawsuits League of Women Voters OCA-Asian Pacific American Advocates Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc. voter fraud claims Utah all-mail voting