State and local election officials from around the United States have raised concerns about the potential disenfranchisement of voters in the upcoming presidential election due to issues within the mail delivery system. In a letter addressed to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the officials expressed alarm over ongoing problems with the timely delivery of mailed ballots. They noted instances where correctly postmarked ballots arrived at election offices after the deadline for counting and highlighted cases of election mail being returned as undeliverable, potentially leading to voters being marked as inactive.
The letter, signed by groups representing election administrators in all 50 states, emphasized a lack of improvement in the U.S. Postal Service’s handling of election mail despite efforts to address the issues. The officials urged immediate corrective action to prevent limitations on voter participation and trust in the election process. The Postal Service did not provide an immediate response to the concerns raised by the election officials.
The National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors revealed that local election officials nationwide have been experiencing delays in receiving postmarked ballots after Election Day, surpassing the standard delivery time frames indicated by USPS. This communication comes amid preparations for a surge of mail-in ballots in the upcoming election and ongoing false claims about the integrity of past elections from former President Donald Trump.
Efforts to promote early voting, whether by mail or in person, have been emphasized by both Democrats and Republicans ahead of Election Day. Concerns have been raised regarding the potential impact of delayed or undelivered ballots on voter participation and the accuracy of voter registration lists. Election officials highlighted challenges faced by rural states in dealing with mail service issues arising from USPS cost-cutting measures.
Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, along with other officials, detailed specific challenges faced in their state, including ballots arriving late or without postmarks, rendering them ineligible for counting under state law. Schwab underscored the importance of local ballot drop boxes as a secure alternative to relying solely on mail delivery for submitting votes. The letter from election officials emphasized the critical need for effective collaboration with USPS to ensure the timely and accurate delivery of election-related mail.