Election officials warn that widespread problems with the US mail system could disrupt voting

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — On Wednesday, state and local election officials across the nation raised alarms about ongoing issues with the U.S. Postal Service that could jeopardize voter participation in the upcoming presidential election. They urged U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to address persistent deficiencies in mail delivery that have led to significant delays and problems with election-related mail.

In a concerning letter, officials reported that over the past year, including the recent primary season, ballots mailed on time often arrived at election offices days past the deadline. Additionally, correctly addressed election mail was frequently returned as undeliverable, potentially leading to voters being inaccurately marked as inactive and facing difficulties when voting.

The letter, sent by the National Association of Secretaries of State and the National Association of State Election Directors, criticized the Postal Service's failure to resolve these issues despite repeated outreach. The groups emphasized that these problems are not isolated incidents but reflect a broader issue with USPS policies and enforcement.

The letter states, “We have not seen improvement or concerted efforts to remediate our concerns,” and urges immediate action to prevent further disruptions. Failure to address these issues, the officials warned, could undermine voter participation and trust in the electoral process.

Requests for comment from the Postal Service were not immediately returned.

Local election officials have reported that ballots are frequently arriving late, outside the USPS’s claimed three-to-five business day window for first-class mail. This issue is particularly pressing as the Postal Service had previously stated that it was prepared for a high volume of mail ballots in the upcoming November election.

The letter coincided with the first mailing of ballots for the general election, starting with absentee voters in Alabama. Despite assurances from DeJoy that the Postal Service was better equipped than in previous years, many officials remain skeptical due to ongoing delivery issues.

Kansas Secretary of State Scott Schwab, who recently sent his own letter to DeJoy, highlighted problems in his state where nearly 1,000 ballots from the August primary were either too late or lacked postmarks. Schwab criticized the Postal Service’s performance, saying, “The Pony Express is more efficient at this point,” and recommended using local ballot drop boxes to avoid federal mail issues.

Election officials across the U.S. have reported that USPS staff often lack knowledge about handling election mail, provide inconsistent guidance, and misdeliver ballots. The letter underscores the need for a reliable partnership between election officials and the Postal Service to ensure a smooth and secure voting process.

In addition to being signed by the current and incoming presidents of both associations, the letter was also endorsed by leaders from local election officials in 25 states. They cautioned that undeliverable election mail could trigger federal procedures that may disenfranchise voters by requiring additional verification to maintain their voting status.