Election workers handle ballots at a U.S. Postal Service site, processing them for the 2020 election in Provo, Utah. The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) faces criticism over new technology linked to mail-in voting. There are concerns it could disrupt the upcoming midterm elections. A whistleblower report highlights troubles with implementing untested technology as part of President Trump’s directive to limit mail-in voting.
Official mail-in voting begins this week. However, parts of USPS’s plan, essential for following Trump’s directives, are halted by court order. This legal dispute stems from an executive order by the president. Despite this, USPS has developed an online platform for states to upload absentee voter details. Testing this system has reportedly been insufficient, according to a whistleblower.
Details from a report, submitted by Senator Richard Blumenthal, reveal USPS is bypassing best practices in rushing the project for a September debut. Whistleblower Aid, representing the anonymous official knowledgeable about USPS’s system, raised concerns. If courts allow USPS’s plan, flaws in the system could delay or prevent absentee ballots from reaching voters. A strict verification process is cited as a potential problem. This process could lead to delays in sending ballots by states, affecting thousands of voters.
USPS spokespeople have not responded to inquiries from NPR regarding these claims. In a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, Senator Blumenthal urged the abandonment of the current USPS plan to ensure voters’ rights aren’t compromised. Calling the situation “mind-boggling” as both an elected official and a citizen, Blumenthal expressed the belief that the system is doomed to fail.
President Trump has defended his USPS directives, citing a need to prevent illegal voting by non-citizens. Such voting is rare, as numerous studies indicate. A federal judge in Boston has issued a temporary restraining order, declaring USPS’s plan potentially illegal due to lack of authority over mail voting. The Trump administration has appealed to the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, positioning the dispute for likely Supreme Court review.
As courts continue to rule on Trump’s order, election officials and voters face uncertainty, trying to navigate this ongoing legal challenge.
Editor’s Note: USPS financially supports NPR.
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