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Under the proposed rules, all outgoing ballot envelopes would need to be clearly marked as Official Election Mail and include a unique Intelligent Mail barcode or comparable USPS tracking technology. These identifiers would allow election officials and postal authorities to track ballots throughout the mailing process and provide a more detailed audit trail. In addition, ballot envelopes would be required to undergo a USPS design review to ensure compatibility with postal automation systems and compliance with federal mailing standards. The administration notes that standardized envelope designs could reduce processing errors and improve ballot delivery reliability.
Another major component of the proposal involves the creation of Mail-In and Absentee Participation Lists. States choosing to participate would submit lists of voters authorized to receive mail-in ballots before federal elections. USPS would then maintain records of ballot recipients and assign unique ballot envelope identifiers associated with those voters. The system is intended to ensure that ballots are transmitted only to authorized recipients and that every ballot can be tracked from mailing to delivery.
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