State and local election officials have raised concerns that ongoing problems with the US Postal Service (USPS) could impact voter participation in the upcoming presidential election.
In a letter sent to US Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, these officials highlighted persistent issues with mail delivery that could disenfranchise voters.
According to the officials, ballots that were postmarked on time have often arrived at local election offices after deadlines, rendering them ineligible for counting. Additionally, there have been numerous instances where properly addressed election mail was returned to voters as undeliverable. This issue could lead to voters being mistakenly categorized as inactive, potentially causing confusion and delays when they attempt to vote.
The letter, issued by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors, criticized the USPS for not addressing these concerns despite repeated outreach. The officials described the problems as widespread and systemic, indicating that they are not isolated incidents but rather a result of broader deficiencies in USPS operations and policy enforcement.
Election officials from nearly half of the states have reported receiving ballots after Election Day, despite USPS’s standard of delivering first-class mail within three to five business days. They also noted a rise in undeliverable mail, which could further complicate the voter registration process and impact those who rely on mail-in ballots.
The letter comes amid heightened scrutiny of the USPS, especially following comments by former President Donald Trump questioning the reliability of mail-in voting. While the Postal Service has claimed improvements and a high rate of timely mail delivery in past election cycles, officials are concerned that these issues could undermine confidence in the electoral process.
In response, USPS officials have stated that they are prepared to handle the expected volume of mail ballots and are working to address performance issues. However, the election officials have urged immediate action to ensure that the problems are resolved before the November election to maintain voter trust and participation.
The letter was sent on the same day that the first mailed ballots for the general election were dispatched to absentee voters in Alabama.
With input from CBS News, New York Post, and Axios.
