State election directors from across the country expressed serious concerns to a top U.S. Postal Service official about the system’s ability to handle an expected surge of mail-in ballots for the upcoming November election. Despite reassurances from Steven Carter, manager of election and government programs for the postal service, state officials remain worried about ballots not being delivered on time. Past issues and disruptive changes in postal facilities under Postmaster General Louis DeJoy have heightened these concerns.
While former President Donald Trump has baselessly claimed that fraudulent mail-in ballots cost him the 2020 election, both parties are now relying on mail-in voting to boost voter turnout in the 2024 election. Republicans, including Trump, now see mail-in voting as crucial in an election that may be decided by narrow margins in swing states. The dynamics of mail-in voting shifted in 2020 when Trump began speaking out against it, despite Republicans previously being as likely as Democrats to vote by mail.
Bryan Caskey, the elections director for Kansas and incoming president of the National Association of State Election Directors, highlighted the impact of delays in mail delivery on voters. He posed a hypothetical scenario of a jurisdiction with a 95% on-time delivery rate, which is better than what most states are experiencing. Carter acknowledged the frustrations of state officials and recognized the significance of mail delays in determining election outcomes. The association’s president, Mandy Vigil, expressed concerns about the lack of time to address these issues before the general election.
Nineteen senators recently wrote to Postmaster General DeJoy inquiring about the Postal Service’s readiness for the 2024 election cycle. They raised concerns about the negative effects of consolidations on mail delivery in various states, including Virginia, Oregon, Texas, and Missouri. Lawmakers in Utah also expressed worry about the impact of consolidations on mail processing and delivery. DeJoy halted cost-cutting consolidations until January 2025 following bipartisan criticism, but there is a call for a commitment to prevent further delays once operations resume.
The National Association of State Election Directors emphasized the urgency of the situation and the need for cooperation from the Postal Service to ensure timely delivery of mail-in ballots. The association has been vocal in advocating for improvements since last November, but has yet to see substantial changes ahead of upcoming elections. Lawmakers, including members of Congress from Minnesota and North Dakota, have called for assurances that resuming consolidations will not lead to additional delays in mail delivery. The challenge of managing mail-in ballots for the 2024 election remains a critical issue for state election officials and postal service leaders to address.
