Last week, the New York Times reported that the U.S. Postal Service “proposed a new rule that would allow it to refuse to deliver mail ballots in states that don’t turn over voter rolls to the federal government.” The prospective rule asks states to create lists of mail voters to screen ballots for eligibility, and would give USPS the authority to disrupt the mail-in voting process.
CHRISTOPHER SHAW; [email protected]
Shaw, a historian and policy analyst, is the author of First Class: The U.S. Postal Service, Democracy, and the Corporate Threat.
Shaw told the Institute for Public Accuracy: “The United States Postal Service has provided a great public service over the years by reliably and swiftly conveying election ballots. This vital role was conspicuous during 2020, when in the middle of the global COVID-19 pandemic millions of voters relied on the agency to participate in the presidential election. Dedicated postal workers ensured that the average time for mailed ballots to be delivered to election officials was 1.6 days. The 2020 election was one recent example of how dependable vote-by-mail has bolstered the democratic process and promoted voter inclusion.
“Unfortunately, current Trump administration proposals would burden the Postal Service with inappropriate political functions, such as determining voter eligibility, that lie well outside of its core competencies. Such election tasks should remain the province of the state and local agencies that have the experience and expertise to handle them, allowing the Postal Service to focus on the timely delivery of ballots and the other vital functions of its essential public service mission.”