President Biden is appointing new members to the U.S. Postal Service board of governors, including former Florida Congresswoman Val Demings and Republican businessman William Zollars, in order to save mail-in ballots ahead of the 2024 presidential election. Biden is seeking to exercise more control over the postal service, which has been embroiled in a political struggle. Democratic Party candidates are believed to benefit more from mail-in ballots, according to Republican lawyers fighting against them.
Biden recently appointed former Labor Secretary Marty Walsh to the board of governors, which consists of 11 individuals, with nine being nominated by the President. The President is aiming to remove Trump-appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, who has been accused of implementing measures that impaired mail delivery, including dismantling sorting machines. Biden’s efforts to shape the board to remove DeJoy culminate in the appointment of new members, as the board is the only entity with the power to remove the Postmaster General.
A federal judge recently rejected a Republican challenge to a Mississippi law allowing the counting of mail-in ballots up to five days after an election, as long as they are postmarked on or before Election Day. The Republican National Committee claims that postal voting disproportionately harms Republican voters, who are less likely to vote by mail. With the upcoming 2024 presidential election expected to be a tight race, the issue of mail-in ballots is particularly significant, prompting President Biden to take action to protect the integrity of the voting process.
The RNC’s efforts to challenge mail-in ballot laws highlight the ongoing political struggle surrounding the postal service and election integrity. President Biden’s appointments to the board of governors are seen as crucial steps towards removing Postmaster General DeJoy and ensuring that mail-in ballots are not unfairly targeted. The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be highly contentious, as evidenced by Vice President Kamala Harris’ rising approval ratings and Donald Trump’s falling favorability. As the election approaches, the issue of mail-in ballots and the functioning of the postal service will continue to be central to the political discourse.
