Key facts
- A whistleblower alleges the U.S. Postal Service is rushing a new mail-in ballot screening system.
- The system could lead to entire batches of ballots being rejected due to a single scanning error.
- The whistleblower claims the system was developed in approximately three months, a process that typically takes close to a year.
- The system is intended to comply with an executive order by President Donald Trump on mail-in voting.
- Senator Richard Blumenthal and Representative Robert Garcia have raised concerns about the system's readiness and potential to disrupt elections.
A whistleblower has alleged that the U.S. Postal Service is rapidly implementing a new system for screening mail-in ballots, which they claim is "perilously rushed and potentially unlawful." The system, developed in approximately three months, is designed to comply with an executive order by President Donald Trump that tightens federal control over mail-in voting. According to the whistleblower, a single scanning error could lead to entire batches of ballots being rejected, potentially disenfranchising millions of voters in the upcoming midterm elections. Senator Richard Blumenthal disclosed the allegations, stating that the USPS "lacks the technical or operational capability" to roll out the system safely. Representative Robert Garcia echoed these concerns, calling the system "faulty, untested, and threatens to totally disrupt ballot delivery." The whistleblower also indicated that the system was not fully assembled for testing until August 24, leaving minimal time to address issues before its intended launch.