A proposed U.S. Postal Service rule aimed at strengthening election security is drawing legal challenges from Democrat attorneys general and voting-rights groups ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

The proposal, released last week for public comment, would require states to provide voter information that the Postal Service would use to verify election mail before it enters the postal system. States that refuse to comply could risk losing access to USPS delivery of mail ballots.

The rule follows President Donald Trump's March executive order directing federal agencies to take steps to improve election integrity and voter eligibility verification.

Democrat officials argue the proposal would interfere with state-run elections and impose costly administrative burdens.

"It's just difficult to overstate the disruption that this will cause to election administration," Michael Cohen, California's deputy attorney general, told The New York Times on behalf of a coalition of Democrat-led states.

Supporters say the measure is part of broader efforts to restore confidence in elections and ensure ballots are cast only by eligible voters.

The proposal has also reportedly sparked debate over the Postal Service's role in election administration.

Anton Hajjar, a former member of the Postal Service Board of Governors, said Trump's order amounts to "political interference with the USPS, which by law is supposed to be independent."

The proposed rule is currently open for a 30-day comment period, with a final version expected by the end of July.

Democrats have filed multiple lawsuits challenging Trump's election-related executive order. But U.S. District Judge Carl J. Nichols ruled in May that many of those challenges were premature because key portions of the order had not yet been implemented.

"The court recognizes that the Postal Service may ultimately issue a final rule that directly affects plaintiffs or their members," Nichols wrote, adding that challengers could return to court if future actions cause harm.

Justice Department attorneys defended the administration's actions while acknowledging that implementation details are still being developed.

"There remain significant uncertainties, even within the federal government, about how and to what extent the executive order will be implemented," Justice Department lawyer Stephen M. Pezzi said in court, according to the Times.

Earlier this year, Postmaster General David Steiner told the outlet that the Postal Service would not be responsible for creating voter eligibility databases.

"We're not going to compile a list," Steiner said. "I mean, we can't compile a list. That's not what our job is."

"We can only work off of a list that we are given, and then we deliver mail," he added.

Newsmax reached out to the Postal Service for comment but did not receive an immediate response.