Fri Sep 20 09:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Election Officials Sound Alarm as Mail-in Ballot Delivery Concerns Rise Ahead of 2024 Election

**Concerns about the U.S. Postal Service’s ability to handle the influx of mail-in ballots in the upcoming general election are growing, with election officials nationwide expressing worry over potential delays and mishandling of election mail.**

Following a troubling trend of delayed and missing mail-in ballots during this year’s primaries, the National Association of State Election Directors and National Association of Secretaries of State issued a public letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, raising serious concerns about the Postal Service’s ability to handle the expected surge in election mail this fall.

While DeJoy maintains that the Postal Service is “ready to deliver the nation’s mail-in ballots” and points to its successful handling of the 2020 general election, election officials highlight several worrying factors:

* **Increased instances of election mail being marked as undeliverable, even for known residents.**
* **Ballots arriving at election offices significantly after the postmark date.**
* **Internal reports revealing USPS employees not always following proper procedures for handling election mail.**

These concerns have led many voters to seek alternative solutions to ensure their ballot is delivered on time. Some, like Julienne Pharrams, a student at the University of Alabama, are planning multiple contingencies to guarantee her vote is received, including having her mother collect and deliver it personally.

Postmaster General DeJoy has assured the public that the Postal Service is taking steps to address these issues, including transitioning to web-based training for employees, implementing a “heroic efforts” policy to rescue ballots near deadlines, and employing extra measures to ensure postmarks are placed on mail-in ballots.

However, election officials remain skeptical, highlighting the potential for structural issues within the Postal Service system to continue impacting ballot delivery. They urge voters to take proactive measures to return their ballots as soon as possible, while also advocating for necessary changes within the Postal Service to ensure a smooth and reliable election process.

Read More