[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 188 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 67159-67160]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-21318]


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POSTAL SERVICE

39 CFR Part 111


Ballot Mail Ancillary Service Endorsements

AGENCY: Postal ServiceTM.

ACTION: Proposed rule.

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SUMMARY: The Postal Service is proposing to amend Mailing Standards of 
the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM[supreg]) to 
remove Change Service Requested, Option 1, as an ancillary service 
endorsement option for Ballot Mail.

DATES: Submit comments on or before October 30, 2023.

ADDRESSES: Mail or deliver written comments to the manager, Product 
Classification, U.S. Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Room 4446, 
Washington, DC 20260-5015. If sending comments by email, include the 
name and address of the commenter and send to 
[email protected], with a subject line of ``Ballot Mail 
Service Endorsements''. Faxed comments are not accepted.

Confidentiality

    All submitted comments and attachments are part of the public 
record and subject to disclosure. Do not enclose any material in your 
comments that you consider to be confidential or inappropriate for 
public disclosure.
    You may inspect and photocopy all written comments, by appointment 
only, at USPS[supreg] Headquarters Library, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, 11th 
Floor North, Washington, DC 20260. These records are available for 
review on Monday through Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., by calling 202-268-
2906.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Emily Matyas (202) 826-7157 or Garry 
Rodriguez at (202) 268-7281.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Ancillary service endorsements provide an 
option for mailers to instruct the Postal Service on how to treat their 
mail if it is determined to be undeliverable-as-addressed and to 
request address correction services.
    The Postal Service is proposing to revise subsections 507.1.5.1 and 
507.1.5.3 to remove the ``Change Service Requested'', Option1, 
ancillary service endorsement as an option for Ballot Mail items. 
Change Service Requested, Option 1 permits all mailpieces that are 
undeliverable as addressed to be disposed of and an address correction 
notice with reason for non-delivery is provided to the mailer. The 
Election and Government Mail Services group made the policy decision to 
never allow any identifiable Ballot Mail piece that is undeliverable as 
addressed to be disposed of by the Postal Service. Instead, Ballot Mail 
that is undeliverable as addressed must be forwarded to the voter if a 
Change of Address notice is on file or returned to the election office 
that sent the Ballot Mail.
    The Postal Service is proposing to implement this change effective 
January 21, 2024.
    We believe this proposed revision will provide customers with a 
more efficient mailing experience.
    Although exempt from the notice and comment requirements of the 
Administrative Procedure Act (5 U.S.C. 553(b), (c)) regarding proposed 
rulemaking by 39 U.S.C. 410(a), the Postal Service invites public 
comment on the following proposed revisions to Mailing Standards of the 
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM), incorporated 
by reference in the Code of Federal Regulations. See 39 CFR 111.1.
    We will publish an appropriate amendment to 39 CFR part 111 to 
reflect these changes.

[[Page 67160]]

List of Subjects in 39 CFR Part 111

    Administrative practice and procedure, Postal Service.

    Accordingly, 39 CFR part 111 is proposed to be amended as follows:

PART 111--GENERAL INFORMATION ON POSTAL SERVICE

0
1. The authority citation for 39 CFR part 111 continues to read as 
follows:

    Authority:  5 U.S.C. 552(a); 13 U.S.C. 301-307; 18 U.S.C. 1692-
1737; 39 U.S.C. 101, 401-404, 414, 416, 3001-3018, 3201-3220, 3401-
3406, 3621, 3622, 3626, 3629, 3631-3633, 3641, 3681-3685, and 5001.

0
2. Revise the Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, 
Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) as follows:

Mailing Standards of the United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail 
Manual (DMM)

* * * * *

500 Additional Mailing Services

* * * * *

507 Mailer Services

1.0 Treatment of Mail

* * * * *

1.5 Treatment for Ancillary Services by Class of Mail

1.5.1 First-Class Mail, USPS Ground Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground 
Advantage--Commercial, and Priority Mail

    Undeliverable-as-addressed First-Class Mail (including postcards), 
USPS Ground Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial, and 
Priority Mail pieces are treated under Exhibit 1.5.1, with these 
additional conditions:
* * * * *
    e. ``Change Service Requested'' is not permitted for the following:
    [Revise item e by adding a new item e4 to read as follows:
* * * * *
    4. ``Change Service Requested'', Option 1, is not valid for Ballot 
Mail.
* * * * *

Exhibit 1.5.1 Treatment of Undeliverable First-Class Mail, USPS Ground 
Advantage--Retail, USPS Ground Advantage--Commercial and Priority Mail

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Mailer endorsement              USPS treatment of UAA pieces
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
Change Service Requested..................
 
                                * * * * *
 
                                * * * * *
Restrictions (for Options 1 and 2)........  The following restrictions
                                             apply:
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [Revise the ``Change Service Requested'' ``Restrictions'' section 
by adding a new number 3 to read as follows:]
    3. ``Change Service Requested'', Option 1, is not valid for Ballot 
Mail.
* * * * *

1.5.3 USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel Select Lightweight

    Undeliverable-as-addressed (UAA) USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel 
Select Lightweight pieces are treated as described in Exhibit 1.5.3, 
with these additional conditions:
* * * * *
    [Revise the text of item c to read as follows:]
    c. The endorsement ``Change Service Requested'' is not permitted 
for the following:
    1. USPS Marketing Mail or Parcel Select Lightweight pieces 
containing hazardous materials under 601.8.0. USPS Marketing Mail or 
Parcel Select Lightweight pieces containing hazardous materials must 
bear the endorsement ``Address Service Requested,'' ``Forwarding 
Service Requested,'' or ``Return Service Requested.''
    2. ``Change Service Requested'', Option 1, is not valid for Ballot 
Mail.
* * * * *

Exhibit 1.5.3 Treatment of Undeliverable USPS Marketing Mail and Parcel 
Select Lightweight

------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Mailer endorsement              USPS treatment of UAA pieces
------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                * * * * *
``Change Service Requested'' \1\ \4\......
Option 1..................................
 
                                * * * * *
Restrictions:
    The following restrictions apply:.....
 
                                * * * * *
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [Revise the ``Change Service Requested'' Option 1 ``Restrictions'' 
section by adding a new number 3 to read as follows:]
    3. ``Change Service Requested'', Option 1, is not valid for Ballot 
Mail.
* * * * *

Colleen Hibbert-Kapler,
Attorney, Ethics & Legal Compliance.
[FR Doc. 2023-21318 Filed 9-28-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P