In recent months, it has becoming increasingly clear that the United States Postal Service is struggling to stay afloat, especially in the wake of COVID-19. The Postal Service has been hemorrhaging funds for many years now, but the reduction in income that was brought on by COVID-19 has sparked controversial action on the part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. DeJoy has been criticized across party lines for his initiatives to increase efficiency in the government agency, which have included closing facilities, reducing the amount of serviced mailboxes across the country, retiring well-working mail sorting machines, and disallowing overtime for mail carriers.
The Postal Service has reportedly sent letters to 46 states and Washington D.C. stating that they may not be able to get ballots for the November election to counting facilities in time to be counted. This action has sparked not only criticism, but outrage across the United States. Absentee (or “mail-in”) ballots have been a reliable method of voting for many who cannot (or do not wish to) vote at a polling center, and the idea that their votes may not be counted despite mailing them on time is incredibly concerning to many.
Many political commentators and analysts believe that this reluctance to deliver mail-in ballots on time comes, at least in part, from President Trump’s opposition to the mail-in voting system; President Trump has stated that he will oppose any emergency funding bill that Congress may approve in order to limit mail-in voting. It has been suggested that the timing of DeJoy’s (who is a long-time trump supporter) “inefficiency eliminating” measures cannot be coincidental, as they’ve begun just before one of the most critical elections in recent history.
In his testimony before a Senate committee today, DeJoy acknowledged that it is his “sacred duty” to deliver ballots in time to be counted, but provided no actual plan to make sure that this duty is fulfilled. He has confirmed that he has no plans to reopen facilities or closed mailboxes, and this has left many in Congress doubting his commitment to providing a reliable mail service pre-election.
Critics have also noted that these methods to “increase efficiency” have had adverse effects for many Americans, and especially those living in rural areas. Many in rural America rely on the Postal Service for not only their mail, but also for things like prescription medication and paychecks. Rural voters were crucial to President Trump’s election in 2016, but their support for the President is dwindling as issues with the Postal Service persist.
Essentially, this politicization of Postal Service functions has caused significant doubt in the reliability of mail-in voting for the upcoming election– so what can voting Americans do to ensure their vote is counted?
We recommend requesting your absentee ballot as soon as possible, and filling it out as soon as you get it. Mailing your ballot no later than mid-October is essential to making sure your vote is recorded, but mailing it as soon as you fill it out is optimal. If you are able, follow up with your ballot; call your election office and make sure your ballot has been received. You may also choose to forego mail-in voting altogether and vote at a polling center, if you feel comfortable doing so. Either way, it is clear that making sure that your vote is counted is more important in this election than it has been in those past.
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