Election Officials Warn USPS About Key Issues With Voting By Mail Ahead Of Presidential Election

Thu Sep 12 01:20:04 UTC 2024: ## Election Officials Raise Alarm Over USPS Capacity Ahead of 2024 Election

**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – Election officials across the country have expressed serious concerns about the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) ability to handle the delivery of millions of ballots in the upcoming 2024 presidential election.

In a letter addressed to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, the National Association of State Election Directors and other officials highlighted a number of ongoing issues, including processing delays, lost or delayed election mail, and insufficient training. These concerns, they claim, could significantly impact the timely and accurate delivery of ballots.

The officials pointed to incidents where ballots, postmarked by the required date, arrived at local election offices days after the deadline for counting. They also reported instances where correctly addressed election mail was returned as undeliverable. Despite previous discussions with USPS election personnel, the officials noted a lack of noticeable improvements or proactive measures to address these concerns.

“We have not seen improvement or concerted efforts to remediate our concerns,” the letter stated. “In fact, many of the issues raised by election officials are echoed in the recent findings of the USPS Office of Inspector General Audit.”

In response, USPS has reiterated its commitment to the “timely and secure delivery of the nation’s Election Mail,” while highlighting improvements in their average delivery time. They advise voters to send ballots at least one week before the election deadline to ensure timely arrival. Additionally, USPS has implemented “extraordinary measures,” including additional pickups and special sorting plans, two weeks before Election Day to expedite ballot delivery.

However, concerns persist. A July report from the USPS Inspector General also pointed out operational risks that could affect ballot counting, urging the USPS to enhance its readiness for processing and delivering ballots.

With the 2024 election looming, election officials are urging the USPS to take immediate action to address these concerns and ensure the integrity of the voting process.

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