FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC, September 10, 2026 National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) has filed a number of amicus briefs in the District Court, the First Circuit Court of Appeals, and, recently, a second amicus curiae brief challenging the U.S. Postal Service’s new ballot-mail rules, before the U.S. Supreme Court, urging the Court to deny the federal government’s request to lift a preliminary injunction blocking the rules before the November election.
In the brief, NSL4A argues that the government is incorrect in claiming the new rules do not conflict with existing law. NSL4A contends that the rules undermine protections Congress established under the Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) for uniformed service members and their families living away from their voting residences, as well as diplomats, their families, and other overseas voters. Although USPS says UOCAVA ballots are exempt from the new barcode-and-enrollment requirements, NSL4A argues there is no reliable process for distinguishing those ballots from other noncompliant ballot mail except through manual review—a process that could not realistically be completed, and any errors corrected, in time to ensure UOCAVA ballots are counted.
“Nothing has changed about the fundamental problem we identified when this rule was first proposed,” said Daniel C. Schwartz, Chair of NSL4A’s Legal Advisory Committee. “The government says military and overseas voters are exempt, but it still has not demonstrated how the Postal Service will reliably recognize and deliver their ballots. With critical UOCAVA deadlines approaching, this is not the time to experiment with an untested system where a mistake can mean disenfranchisement of our military service personnel and their families, and citizens voting from overseas .”
The filing follows the District Court’s preliminary injunction blocking the USPS rule. NSL4A argues that lifting that injunction now would risk substantial disruption just as states prepare to send ballots to UOCAVA voters, which federal law requires to occur by September 19.
NSL4A is asking the Supreme Court to deny the government’s stay request and preserve existing ballot-mail procedures for the 2026 election, protecting the ability of Americans serving away from home to have their votes delivered and counted.
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About National Security Leaders for America
National Security Leaders for America (NSL4A) is a nonpartisan network of over 1,500 senior national security professionals—retired admirals, generals, senior enlisted leaders, intelligence officers, diplomats, and civilian service officials—from across the political spectrum who are united in defense of American democracy. Founded in 2021, NSL4A is a 501(c)(4) organization that advocates for democratic values, institutions, and leaders who uphold the Constitution and the rule of law. Our members offer expert, real-world insights on the national security implications of election integrity, civil-military relations, and democratic resilience.
Media Contact: CommDirector@nsl4a.org