State and native election officers from across the U.S. issued a warning Wednesday concerning the Postal Service’s skill to distribute and gather mail-in ballots as early voting for the presidential election has already began.
The 2 predominant skilled organizations of election officers stated in a joint letter to U.S. Postmaster Common Louis DeJoy that he ought to instantly take measures to handle widespread issues which have already disrupted voting throughout this yr’s primaries.
“We implore you to take quick and tangible corrective motion to handle the continuing efficiency points with USPS election mail service,” the 2 teams stated. “Failure to take action will threat limiting voter participation and belief within the election course of.”
The warning from the Nationwide Affiliation of State Election Administrators and the Nationwide Affiliation of Secretaries of State, which repeats earlier criticism of the Postal Service, comes as voting by mail has grow to be extra widespread for the reason that pandemic.
Of their letter, the organizations stated that mail-in ballots are being intentionally held or considerably delayed, with some being obtained past the three to 5 days claimed because the First Class supply normal and, in lots of instances, nicely after Election Day. In addition they report instances wherein mail is being marked as undeliverable regardless of some residents who haven’t moved.
Regardless of their earlier complaints, the teams wrote that they “haven’t seen enchancment or concerted efforts to remediate our considerations.”
The postal service dismissed the criticism, insisting its carriers are “able to ship” in an announcement from Adrienne Marshall, director of election and authorities mail providers.
“We have been profitable in 2020 delivering a historic quantity of mail in ballots; additionally in 2022 and can achieve this once more in November 2024,” Marshall stated.
The letter comes as mail-in voting has already began in Alabama. North Carolina was presupposed to be the primary state to start mail-in voting however it was delayed after the state’s Supreme Courtroom sided with former presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that his identify should be faraway from the poll.
Mail-in voting is anticipated to be down from 2020, when the pandemic led an unprecedented variety of voters to keep away from in-person polling locations.
Former President Donald Trump has expressed blended views on the apply. He discouraged the apply in 2020 and falsely claimed that fraudulent mail ballots value him the election. However on this election cycle, the previous president has inspired voters to make use of mail ballots to drive turnout. He additionally instructed supporters at a rally in August that “we need to do away with mail-in voting.”
