Summary
Top election officials from both major parties have raised significant concerns regarding the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) ability to deliver mail-in ballots on time for the upcoming elections. They warn that delays could disenfranchise voters and undermine trust in the electoral process, particularly as mail-in voting becomes more prevalent.
As the November election approaches, election officials have reported ongoing issues with USPS performance, including long delivery times, ballots being marked as undeliverable, and a lack of awareness among postal staff regarding election mail policies. A letter from the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors urged immediate corrective action, highlighting that nearly 5% of mail-in ballots were not reaching voters in time during recent primaries. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that mail-in ballots accounted for 43% of the electorate in the 2020 election, a significant increase from previous years. Election officials have advised voters to mail their ballots at least seven days before Election Day to mitigate the risk of delays.
Key Issues Raised
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Delivery Delays: Reports indicate that ballots are being returned as undeliverable at higher-than-usual rates, and many are arriving late, potentially invalidating votes. In some states, significant portions of ballots sent by mail were not counted due to USPS administrative failures.
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Election Mail Management: USPS has faced criticism for not adequately preparing for the surge in mail-in voting. Officials have cited instances where local USPS management was unaware of critical election timelines, leading to further complications.
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Voter Disenfranchisement: The potential for disenfranchisement looms large, particularly for voters relying on mail-in ballots. Election officials have expressed alarm that the current issues could lead to hundreds of thousands of voters being unable to cast their ballots effectively.
Recommendations for Voters
Election officials are urging voters to take proactive measures to ensure their ballots are counted. They recommend mailing ballots well in advance of Election Day and checking local election offices to confirm the receipt of ballots. This proactive approach is crucial, especially given the varying state laws regarding ballot acceptance timelines, which can affect whether a vote is counted based on its delivery date.
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Sep. 11 / The New York Times / Documents bipartisan concerns from top election officials about postal service issues, providing a balanced view of the situation. It succinctly conveys the stakes involved, making it an essential read for voters. “ Democratic and Republican secretaries of state highlighted incidents of voters being disenfranchised by ballots not being delivered on time.