The U.S. Postal Service has issued a proposed rule that could potentially restrict mail ballot services in states that do not provide certain data to the agency. The proposal has generated opposition from Democratic officials and voting rights organizations.

According to critics of the proposed rule, it represents federal overreach that could impact millions of Americans who vote by mail. Democrats and voting-rights groups have characterized the proposal as potentially harmful to voter access.

The rule would require states to turn over unspecified data to the Postal Service as a condition for continued mail ballot processing services. States that fail to comply with the data-sharing requirements could face restrictions on their mail ballot operations.

Voting rights advocates argue that the proposal could create barriers to mail-in voting, which has become increasingly popular in recent election cycles. They contend that such federal requirements could disproportionately affect voter participation in states that rely heavily on mail balloting.

The Postal Service has not yet provided detailed justification for the proposed data requirements or specified what information states would need to provide. The proposal is currently in the public comment period before any final implementation.