The U.S. Postal Service announced on Tuesday its decision to scrap a plan that would have shifted Reno-area mail processing to Sacramento, a move that had sparked concerns among northern Nevadans about potential delays in local deliveries and the timely handling of mail-in election ballots. According to USPS, they have identified improved efficiencies that will allow single piece mail processing to remain at the current Reno facility without affecting postal workers in Reno.
This revised plan is pending formal regulatory filings that the Postal Service intends to launch next month with the Postal Regulatory Commission. Senator Jacky Rosen hailed the decision as the end of a misguided Washington plan, emphasizing the victory for seniors, veterans, and all Northern Nevada residents reliant on prompt mail delivery.
Earlier this year, a bipartisan effort led by Senator Rosen, Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, Representative Mark Amodei, and Governor Joe Lombardo opposed the original plan. Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar, Nevada’s top election official, cautioned that relocating operations could hinder mail ballot processing and potentially disenfranchise thousands of voters in Nevada, impacting election outcomes.
Most Nevadans have been voting by mail in recent elections, with 51% opting for mail-in ballots in the November 2022 general election and an increase to 65% in this year’s June primary. The initial downsizing proposal by Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, aimed at cost-saving measures, faced strong opposition in Nevada due to concerns that all mail from Reno would have to pass through Sacramento before reaching its destination.
Lawmakers highlighted potential delays caused by weather conditions, particularly snowfall along the 260-mile (418-kilometer) route on U.S. Interstate 80 between Reno and Sacramento. Back in March during a severe snowstorm, Rosen and Amodei introduced legislation to prevent the processing transfer.
Following a pre-filing conference with the Postal Regulatory Commission slated for September 5, more information about the updated plans will be shared. USPS stated that if the regulatory process is successful, there will be no change in the location for processing outgoing single piece mail in Reno, ensuring operations continue at the current facility.
