Idaho election officials warn new USPS absentee ballot rules could cause errors before midterms

Idaho election officials are bracing for possible implementation of a new U.S. Postal Service regulation that stems from a Trump administration executive order and would mandate federal oversight of absentee ballot design and envelope tracking. Secretary of State Phil McGrane warned that the rule could arrive too close to the November 3 midterm elections, complicating the distribution of absentee ballots to military and overseas voters.

Ada County Clerk Trent Tripple said his office needs any ballot changes by Wednesday to meet printing deadlines, and cautioned that last-minute adjustments are likely to produce mistakes. While the rule remains blocked by a federal court, the state is also facing a Idaho Supreme Court lawsuit challenging descriptions of a Proposition 1 abortion initiative. Officials highlighted the financial and logistical burdens of adding tracking codes and uploading voter request data, especially for smaller counties with limited resources.