Mail-in ballots 2024: officials fear postal delays could impact voting
During a meeting on Tuesday, state election directors from across the United States raised serious concerns to a top U.S. Postal Service official about the system's capacity to manage the anticipated surge in mail-in ballots for the upcoming November election.
What are the concerns about mail-in ballots for the November election?
According to a recent report from the Associated Press, state election directors emphasized the critical role the Postal Service will play in ensuring that mail-in ballots are delivered and counted on time.
Despite assurances from Steven Carter, the manager of election and government programs for the Postal Service, the directors expressed unease based on past delivery issues and recent disruptions from postal facility consolidations.
What reassurances did the Postal Service provide?
Carter attempted to assuage concerns by highlighting an upcoming election mail report from the Office of Inspector General, which he said would contain positive performance data.
A employee at the Utah County Election office puts mail in ballots into a container to register the vote in the midterm elections on November 6, 2018 in Provo, Utah.
"The data that we’re seeing shows improvements in the right direction," Carter said, suggesting the OIG report would commend the current handling of election mail.
Why are election directors still worried?
Despite Carter's reassurances, directors like Monica Evans from the District of Columbia Board of Elections shared personal and systemic issues with mail-in ballot delivery. Evans noted over 80 ballots from a June primary that were mailed timely but arrived too late to be counted, reflecting ongoing delivery problems.
How is mail-in voting evolving in U.S. elections?
Mail-in voting has become a pivotal strategy for both political parties aiming to maximize voter turnout in the 2024 elections.
This is a notable shift given former President Donald Trump's baseless claims that fraudulent mail-in ballots cost him the 2020 election. Both parties now see it as essential, particularly in key swing states where elections are likely to be decided by narrow margins.
What impact do mail delivery delays have on elections?
Bryan Caskey, Kansas’ elections director, illustrated the potential impact of mail delays.
He highlighted that even with a 95% on-time delivery rate, a significant number of voters could be dissatisfied, which could affect election outcomes. "Actual elections are being determined by these delays," Caskey said.
What are the next steps for the Postal Service and election officials?
Mandy Vigil, New Mexico’s elections director, remains concerned about the limited time left before the general election despite the Postal Service’s willingness to engage.
"I think that we are at a place where we really need them to pay attention," Vigil said, emphasizing the need for changes before November.
What actions are lawmakers taking regarding postal service plans?
Nineteen senators recently wrote to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, seeking details about the Postal Service’s policies and plans for the 2024 election cycle.
They cited negative impacts from regional consolidations, such as those in Virginia, which led to significant delivery delays and prompted local officials to direct voters to use designated drop boxes. Lawmakers are pressing for assurances that these consolidations will not cause further delays.
DeJoy has paused the cost-cutting consolidations until January 2025 following bipartisan criticism, but lawmakers demand a commitment that the resumption of these consolidations won’t lead to further mail delivery issues.
The Associated Press contributed to this story. It was reported from Los Angeles.