Sun Sep 15 11:00:13 UTC 2024: ## US Postal Service Gets Green Thumbs-Up for Electric Fleet, But Election Concerns Remain

The US Postal Service (USPS) is being praised for its new electric vehicle fleet, but concerns about its ability to deliver mail-in ballots on time ahead of the 2024 election continue to linger.

The agency, which has been criticized for its outdated fleet and delivery delays, has committed to purchasing 106,000 vehicles by 2028, including 66,000 electric vehicles. This surpasses the Biden administration’s goal for federal fleet electrification, earning the USPS a 2024 Presidential Sustainability Award.

However, state and local election officials remain skeptical. In an open letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, they expressed concerns about processing facility operations, lost or delayed election mail, and training deficiencies. They cited a recent USPS Office of Inspector General Audit which found systematic lapses in training, system-wide delivery delays, and a significant increase in the amount of mail marked “undeliverable,” potentially impacting voter registration and participation.

The officials urged DeJoy to take immediate action to address these concerns, emphasizing the need for a reliable USPS for election mail delivery.

While the USPS is making progress towards greening its fleet, it faces a challenge in proving its ability to handle election mail effectively. This leaves voters with a responsibility to double-check their registration status, request mail-in ballots early, and consider alternative voting methods like early voting to ensure their votes are counted.

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